2012 Election-Special Edition

2012

united states – 2012 special edition

In 2008, Barack Obama was elected to the White House convincingly. Just four years later, he is facing a potentially difficult re-election campaign against a strengthened Republican Party. Now, as the Iowa Caucuses are fast approaching, Newt Gingrich has risen from the political dead and has taken the front runner mantle from Mitt Romney. Can Mitt make a comeback? Or will another candidate emerge? Or will the GOP have to draft a new standard bearer to enter the fray?

This scenario, inspired by the detailed accounts in the bestselling book Double Down, gives you everything you need to relive the 2012 race for the White House. Santorum’s surge. Rick Perry’s debating woes. Herman Cain and 9-9-9. Gingrich’s Moon Colony. Romney and the 47% tape. Bill Clinton’s DNC Speech. The debate in Denver. “You didn’t build that.” The 2012 race is on.

Features:

1. Over a dozen new campaign events, from Romney’s 47% tape, to Sandra Fluke, Todd Akin, and the Supreme Court ACA ruling, giving the election experience a much more thematic flavor.

2. Conventions are now more important: each night has a series of possible speeches, some that will benefit the nominee, and some that will hurt, but never is the same set of speeches delivered. Will Clinton’s DNC Speech win over undecided voters? Can Rubio give a new face to the GOP with his keynote? Or will Clint Eastwood wander on stage to talk to an empty chair?

3. CPAC-During early February, the GOP candidates muster at CPAC. Similar to the conventions, some candidates will do well and will gain critical support among conservative voters; others run the risk of stumbling, but the results are never going to be the same each time you play.

4. Candidates that dropped out before Iowa have been added back in. Can Herman Cain revive his campaign? What about Tim Pawlenty?

5. During the Spring of 2011, several popular Republicans passed on entering the fray; what if they changed their minds? Could Huckabee, Palin, Jindal, or Barbour emerge from the pack and win the nomination? What about Rudy Giuliani, Scott Brown, or Donald Trump?

6. When Gingrich and Romney were locked in their battle for the nomination, many Republican Party leaders vainly attempted to bring in a draft candidate to unite the party, even well into the primary season. Could Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush or Paul Ryan enter late into the race and still win? Or could they not get on all the ballots in time.

Note: While playing as a draft candidate, begin as undecided to simulate the lack of ballot access, and don’t have multiple draft candidates in the race. For a difficult challenge, stay undecided until February, or even March, when some candidates like Daniels and Bush still contemplated entering the race.

7. More endorsers: New endorsers have been added, like Colin Powell, Sarah Palin, and Grover Norquist. Be able to fund your candidacy for weeks by getting the backing of Sheldon Adleson or the Koch brothers.

8. New Historical Details added-Gingrich and Santorum have been taken off the ballots to Virginia, while the Missouri Caucus has been moved up to its correct electoral date (even if the delegates weren’t officially allocated until March), among other new improvements.

 

2004 Scenario-Beta

election 2004

2004 U.S. Presidential Election Scenario

It is election season and America is at war. After 8 years of Democratic White House, George W. Bush narrowly won the Presidency. Since then, Bush’s plans have been derailed by terrorist attacks on 9/11. Bush responded by invading Aghanistan and Iraq. Now, as he faces re-election, Bush’s once towering approval ratings are declining. In face of two wars, a controversial election, and a sluggish economy, can Bush, like his father, end up as a one term President?

The populist Dean with his new internet fundraising. John Kerry and ‘flip-flopping’. The charismatic John Edwards. Joe Lieberman’s “Joementum.” Wesley’s Clark’s foray into politics. Karl Rove’s political machine and the Swift boat Veterans for Truth. Latinos cheering “Viva Bush.” Down to the wire vote getting in Ohio. The 2004 election is yours to write.

united states – 2004

There are numerous what if scenarios:

1. What if Al Gore listened to the chorus of Democrats who wanted him to challenge Bush for re-election? Past Democrat Presidents who won the popular vote but lost the electoral college-Andrew Jackson and Grover Cleveland-managed to make a comeback and win the White House. Can Gore be next?

2. What if other high profile Democrats entered the race? Hillary Clinton was on the verge of making her own bid for the Presidency. Could have she won? What about other experienced Senate Democrats like Daschle, Biden, Dodd, could have they used their gravitas to make Bush a one term president?

3. What if Gary Hart, the Democrat who nearly beat Mondale, and some would say, paved the way for Bill Clinton’s New Democrats, embarked on a long shot comeback? He reportedly was close to making the plunge. Could Hart rise from the political dead and win the White House?

4. What if Lincoln Chafee continued his bid in challenging Bush as an anti-war Republican? Or what if Bush faced other primary challenges, such as from Colin Powell, Ron Paul, or his one time rival, John McCain? And what if Bush dumped Cheney for a more charismatic VP?

Note: I haven’t been able to figure out when the various U.S. territory primaries occurred, so they’re currently just on the days they were in 2008 (which I know, of course, is incorrect). I also need to update the U.S. Territory endorsers.