I think I should address several misconceptions about what I meant in the interview.
I did not believe that MB would've defeated Pericles in a primary if it was actually held since the numbers were on Peri's side all the way through (MB bringing third party lefties into Labor did make it more competitive to the point that Peri would feel insecure and would actually have to campaign hard for a win which is probably what spurred the rules change). However, I do feel like that changing the rules and disenfranchising a lot of people in what was really a blatant and greedy power grab for Pericles de-legitimized his nomination. Of course we know this ended with Pericles clearly winning the general election with Laborite defections kept at a bare minimum (there was that HCP/Sestak protest ticket which wasn't particularly useful as a vehicle for protest since I know Sestak ensured that most of his voters preferenced Pericles over Koopa but at least it knocked Peri under 50% on the first round). And of course we can't ignore the fact that MB's little deal with Pericles orchestrated by Windjammer didn't play out so great for MB as he ended up getting his dues from myself instead of going to the White House. He didn't have to drop out of the presidential race just because he lost the primary, but this Labor mentality of loyalty and unity at all costs can't give them ownership of the game forever, but some may digress at their own loss. As for other points, I was honest in telling what I really think. It's good that Pericles creates his own opposition, and I'm largely proud of the Federalist Party and the way we do things regardless of what the haters say.
I mostly agree with this. I didn't really think I was ever the favorite going into it but at least I had a fighting chance if I'd brought Peace members into Labor. So of course I tried that out and then the rule change happened and I would've lost 60-40 so no use in trying. Since Pericles I think had won out the support of a lot of the other members (like Truman) back before I was even planning a run for president.
The reason I even ran in the first place was less so because I desperately wanted to be president and more so because I wanted to prove a point, I was pissed off at the anointed successor system, and Pericles' cocky attitude about it all was annoying me. So that's why I ran for chair (mostly because Pericles announced his "slate" earlier on and despite being a lot more involved with the party than either Tack or DevoutCentrist he never offered me vice chair). So I lost that obviously and thought well I didn't win this time but three months to prepare for a presidential primary would be enough. (If I'd won the chair race I doubt I would've run for president). The issue was more bad timing, I wasn't expecting Pericles to declare so early and I ignored the advice Sestak had given me a few months back and didn't contact people early either because I didn't want to bother/annoy them. Pericles obviously did and came out with a big slate of endorsements right off the bat. A couple of them defected right after (I think PSOL and Elcaspar) because they didn't know I was running but coming in second place and having to frantically assemble a campaign thread and activate a team was tough and the only upper hand I had was announcing Leinad as my VP right away while Peri took a couple weeks to announce Peanut. (Even though the Peanut pick was pretty obvious).
As for the senate election that time I overcalculated and thought it would be an easier battle than it turned out to be. I'd gone into October thinking I was gonna lose but ended up beating Deadprez something like 60-40 so I assumed I was the heavy favorite. LT moving to the south and entering the race wasn't something I thought would happen and by February I wasn't at a 100% level of caring anymore while LT was tuned up to the top. So I didn't try hard, didn't really go for feds or swing voters, and somehow still expected to win. Stupid move on my part.
During the original presidential campaign as well my focus wasn't always great - I thought about dropping out or even deregistering a couple times because my mental health wasn't too good at the time and I didn't feel like I had the energy to put my 100% effort in. That turned out to not be an issue then but it might have been had I made it to the primary.
And in the presidential election I honestly wanted Pericles to lose. I voted for him, obviously, and I got people out to vote for him but I was pretty pissed from the maneuvering to get me out of the primary and thought if he lost it would be karma for that. I guess the way to ensure he lost would've been to, well... not vote for him or defect as I considered doing initially but decided it would be a bad idea.
