Fear and Loathing in 72’ – The Election Game (GM Vacancy)

[Lumine]

By the way, news coverage on the results begins in exactly ten hours. There's a lot of results to create, so I can't wait until Midnight (that is, Chilean midnight).

I'm not quite sure yet of how exactly to make the release, so I'll get into planning once I finish some university related matters.

[Lumine]

No more than one or two hours left here.

[Lumine]

One is dead...

Seven left the race...

Another just a heartbeat away...

Eight fight for the crown...

And a deranged assassin wonders whom to hunt.

OOC: Yeah, I was bored waiting for the schedules. Finding the right pictures to make a "poster" took a while, and my skill at Paint is non-existant.

[Lumine]

Sexy.

Who is the deranged assassin?

Why, Mr. Arthur Bremer! You don't think he's going to play nice and not shoot a presidential candidate, do you?

[Lumine]

Question when is the candidate going to get shot, this coming turn???

That shall be revealed in due time!

[Lumine]

Oh, what the hell, I'll reveal my proposal (mind you, it's a proposal):

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Thoughts?

[Lumine]

Well, I'd say "sh*tty" and "detestable" is clear enough on the opposition. A bit too harsh for my taste, but clear, xD

But no hard feelings, I will leave that idea on the backburner should I ever make another timeline like this (as there are people opposed, making the excercise somewhat pointless).

That's it for this turn, I'll start calculating results and post them as they go.

[Lumine]

LBJ to endorse Senator Muskie on Democratic Race:

A statement from the LBJ Ranch stated that former President Lyndon Baines Johnson will be making an endorsement in the Democratic Primary, having chosen Maine Senator Edmund Muskie as his preferred choice. The brief statement from the former President expressed his gratitude for his improving health, along with his decision to attend the Miami Convention in July. He then went into delivering some praise on the Maine Senator given their personal relationship, his experience in congress, his role as Vice-President Humphrey's running and, overall, Muskie's apparent strenghts as a challenger to President Richard Nixon, current favourite to win the 1972 Election. Despite some indirect jabs at candidates assumed to be Wallace, McGovern, Harris and Udall, President Johnson also offered positive comments on Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty, stressing his candor, his defence of the legacy of the Johnson Administration on Vietnam and his succesful performance so far. All in all, it is assumed the Johnson endorsement will help Muskie with establishment connections and Texan voters, but could prove harmful with anti-war voters already distrustful of his stances on Vietnam.

[Lumine]

April 25th:

Democratic Massachusetts Primary:

Ed Muskie: 30.77% (36)
Fred Harris: 27.02% (32)
WI: George McGovern: 24.56% (28)
Sam Yorty: 16.35% (16)
WI: George Wallace: 1.03%

Democratic Pennsylvania Primary:

Fred Harris: 32.98%(58)
Sam Yorty: 29.64% (51)
Ed Muskie: 25.89% (37)
WI: George McGovern: 8.12%
WI: George Wallace: 3.37%

Democratic Vermont Caucus:

George McGovern: 29.45% (5)
Ed Muskie: 24.01% (37) (3)
Morris Udall: 22.17% (2)
Fred Harris: 13.76%
Sam Yorty: 4.13%
George Wallace: 2.67%

[Lumine]

May 2nd:

Democratic Washington DC Caucus:

Morris Udall: 31.22% (7)
George McGovern: 26.43% (5)
Uncommitted: 17.12 (3)
Fred Harris: 12.34%
Ed Muskie: 11.09%
Sam Yorty: 1.13%
George Wallace: 0.67%

Democratic Indiana Primary:

Fred Harris: 28.78% (31)
George McGovern: 21.44% (19)
Ed Muskie: 21.32% (18)
Sam Yorty: 15.16% (14)
George Wallace: 14.32%

Democratic Ohio Primary:

George McGovern: 31.56% (62)
Sam Yorty: 22.98% (34)
Fred Harris: 17.43% (27)
Ed Muskie: 17.36% (27)
George Wallace: 10.67%

[Lumine]

May 4th:

Democratic Tennessee Primary:

George Wallace: 43.56% (33)
Sam Yorty: 27.15% (16)
Ed Muskie: 13.36%
Fred Harris: 11.12%
George McGovern: 4.81%

Democratic Alabama Caucus:

George Wallace: 71.37% (41)
Sam Yorty: 14.26%
Ed Muskie: 5.58%
Fred Harris: 5.16%
George McGovern: 2.65%
Morris Udall: 0.98%

Democratic Georgia Caucus:

George Wallace: 46.64% (35)
Sam Yorty: 28.74% (17)
Fred Harris: 13.76%
Ed Muskie: 5.34%
George McGovern: 3.87%
Morris Udall: 1.65%

[Lumine]

May 6th:

Democratic North Carolina Primary:

Sam Yorty: 36.15% (39)
George Wallace: 33.25% (35)
Fred Harris: 13.71%
Ed Muskie: 11.67%
George McGovern: 5.22%

Democratic North Dakota Caucus:

George McGovern: 46.04% (8 )
Morris Udall: 22.76% (4)
Fred Harris: 15.82% (2)
Sam Yorty: 10.37%
Ed Muskie: 3.76%
George Wallace: 1.25%

Democratic Mississippi Caucus:

George Wallace: 51.19% (22)
Sam Yorty: 25.82% (10)
George McGovern: 7.43%
Ed Muskie: 6.12%
Fred Harris: 5.32%
Morris Udall 4.12

Democratic Louisiana Caucus:

Sam Yorty: 35.05% (18)
George Wallace: 34.78% (16)
Fred Harris: 11.97%
Ed Muskie: 8.01%
George McGovern: 7.65%
Morris Udall 2.54%

[Lumine]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Note: Nixon won all but 18 scattered Southern delegates, voting for Goldwater.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Lumine]

Turn Twelve: A Fusilade of Primaries:

May 7th to May 23rd, 1972

In the News!

Bombing in North Vietnam intensifies!

Haiphong mined, aerial battle leaves seven MiG's, one F-4D shot down

Okinawa returned to Japan

Vice-President Agnew presides ceremony that returns the Ryukyu Islands after decades of occupation

Nixon goes to Moscow!

Succesful meeting with Brezhnev and Kissinger has Nixon as the first POTUS to visit Moscow

1.- Primaries: A lot of fun here as well! We have eight contests here, but only two of them are caucuses, the rest being primaries. What's so special about it? You need to win primaries to remain viable, so a lack of success here might severely damage your own chances of surviving until the end of primary season. Mind you, after this turn only two more remain with caucuses and primaries, and after that we go to the DNC! This is what we have for this turn:

Democrats:

May 9 – Nebraska (22) and West Virginia (35) Primaries, Connecticut (49) Caucuses
May 16 – Michigan (142) and Maryland (53) Primaries, Washington (51) Caucuses
May 23 – Oregon (34) and Rhode Island (22) Primaries

A total of 408 delegates up for grabs, crucial now that the numbers make it almost impossible to avoid a brokered convention.

2.- Primary Deadline: Last deadline for the game here, as candidates need to apply for the June New York Primary. Beyond that, Udall is barred from participating on the Nebraska and West Virginia Primaries as he entered after that deadline, and Yorty is off the ballot on Rhode Island by personal choice.

3.- Special Dynamics: We will have the debate this time, and another special endorser is open. This time is Mr. George Meany, AFL-CIO's eternal president and a tough boss for the Democratic Party. Meany, known for his outspoken views and his contempt of George McGovern and the left in OTL 1972', brings with his endorsement the power of Labor backing, which means a large polling boost for two primaries of the winner's choosing and extra infraestructure on two caucuses. Players can PM me requesting his endorsement, and they need to mention the states in which they want these bonuses, for Meany endorses before this turn's results are in.

Gallup: President Nixon's Approval Rating:

Approve: 54% (+1)
Disapprove: 37% (+1)
Undecided: 9% (-2)

Gallup: 1972 Presidential Election:

Richard M. Nixon: 46% (+4)
Generic Democrat: 42% (+2)
John G. Schmitz: 5% (-1)
Undecided: 5% (-5)

Primary Polling

Gallup: Republican Primary:

Richard Nixon: 91% (+4)
Undecided: 9% (+7)

With no challenger left, no time to petition for ballot and with only a hundred delegates left for Nixon to claim victory, there's little to say he. He's virtually won, so to speak.

Gallup: Democratic Primary:

George McGovern: 28% (+1)
Sam Yorty: 21% (+2)
Fred Harris: 20% (+3)
George Wallace: 13% (+3)
Ed Muskie: 12% (-5)
Morris Udall: 5% (-1)
Undecided: 2% (-3)

With the late April and early May Primaries over, the situation remains complicated. The biggest hit was sustained by Senator Muskie, who was unable to surpass the efforts of his rivals in the primaries and ended up defeated in New England, sending his campaign into full panic mode and potential collapse if he can win a single contest this round. George Wallace surged strongly in the South, but the fact remains that his message was already taken by Yorty, and denouncing Yorty as "for forced integration" just doesn't stick. This means Wallace runs strong margins in the South, yet loses the border and the north to a strong Yorty machine. Wallace also blew like 2 MILLION DOLLARS (seriously, it's too much for the time) on ads, which puts his campaign in financial trouble (same with Udall, just too much money on ads).

McGovern continues to do fine by winning contests, but that mistake in MA and PA cost him dearly, robbing him the chance to take a lead in delegates and confining him far back to fourth place despite a delegate lead on account of poor GOTV. Udall also took a hit despite a decent performance, if only because he barely campaigned beyond the first few days. This leaves us with the challengers, Harris and Yorty. Now, I loved the fight between both of you (and the rest too, including Wallace), but Yorty has to come out on top here. Why? Because Harris looked as if he was flipflopping on busing, his debate stance a pretty strong one. This means his campaign took a major hit through the South and with working class voters, a loss that he offset through strong extra turnout and two victories that strongly help his case.

[Lumine]

Primary Candidate Data

Notoriety = N, Organization = O, Finance = F

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Lumine]

Early States, Tentative Polling:

Gallup: Nebraska Primary:

George McGovern: 42%
Fred Harris: 17%
Sam Yorty: 15%
Ed Muskie: 9%
George Wallace: 5%
Undecided: 12%

Gallup: West Virginia Primary:

Fred Harris: 29%
Sam Yorty: 22%
George Wallace: 18%
George McGovern: 11%
Ed Muskie: 7%
Undecided: 8%

Gallup: Connecticut Caucus:

George McGovern: 38%
Ed Muskie: 16%
Morris Udall: 15%
Fred Harris: 11%
Sam Yorty: 7%
George Wallace: 2%
Undecided: 11%

Gallup: Michigan Primary:

Sam Yorty: 26%
George McGovern: 22%
George Wallace: 18%
Fred Harris: 11%
Ed Muskie: 10%
Morris Udall: 7%
Undecided: 7%

Gallup: Maryland Primary:

Sam Yorty: 23%
George Wallace: 22%
George McGovern: 20%
Fred Harris: 12%
Morris Udall: 8%
Ed Muskie: 7%
Undecided: 8%

Gallup: Washington Caucus:

George McGovern: 34%
Sam Yorty: 17%
Morris Udall: 13%
Ed Muskie: 12%
Fred Harris: 7%
George Wallace: 3%
Undecided: 14%

Gallup: Oregon Primary:

George McGovern: 33%
Sam Yorty: 19%
Morris Udall: 15%
Ed Muskie: 12%
Fred Harris: 8%
George Wallace: 6%
Undecided: 9%

Gallup: Rhode Island Primary:

George McGovern: 35%
Ed Muskie: 17%
Fred Harris: 15%
Morris Udall: 12%
George Wallace: 11%
Undecided: 10%

[Lumine]

My dreams of being the clear #1 in nationwide polls have yet to be realized, but at least my delegate strategy last turn paid off!

When is this turn ending?

Hmmm... Wednesday, an extention possible onto Friday.

[Lumine]

2nd Democratic Presidential Debate:

Note: All Democratic candidates are invited to attend, but not doing so will not result in a drop in the polls. This debate is on national TV, so the stakes are high in terms of how much your standing on the polls can rise or drop. You have a right to reply to other candidates, but don't make it a ten post argument. Finally, you can end your performance with a closing statement. Good luck!

You must be logged in to read this quote.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[Lumine]

Is the Democrats' advantage in the South due to Wallace's entry and recent heavy campaigning in the Democratic primaries or is it an overall trend?

The first one, strong support from the South is a given for Yorty and Wallace, appeal they bring to the party's nationwide polling. Should neither of them be in the race, you'd see a much different situation on the South.

[Lumine]

Granted.

[Lumine]

Hi!

Did I get >90% in all states last round or did I get >80%/>70% in some of the Southern states? I want to make a percent map for the GOP primary.

Thanks!

Hmmmm... It's >90% on most due to the 15% delegate rule, but for game purposes let's say Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi are around >80%, and Alabama >70%.

[Lumine]

Could I get mine up late Thursday? I've had a crazy week.

Sure!

I will have the schedule up within 24 hours. Where's Muskie?

Noted!

[Lumine]

May I ask for an extension until tomorrow evening?

I can finish it really quickly, but I'd appreciate another twemty-four hours. I had a last-minute appointment I wasn't expecting. I sincerely apologize and am willing to accept a certain cut on my delegate counts of necessary.

Last extension, though, tomorrow night at 10 PM forum time I announce the George Meany endorsement and results.

Also, question for the players:

-We are approaching the Democratic Convention now, which I want to turn into an interesting part of the simulation on the assumption that most of you will actually go all the way into there. That means that after this turn we should have a couple more turns of about two weeks each, one until California and the other until Texas/New York, but I was also toying to make it a single turn as well.

Which one do you prefer? Single turn to end primary season despite the lenght, or two turns to gauge momentum in a better way?

[Lumine]

Three to four hours left here.

[Lumine]

The round is ending right, can I have an extension of 1-2 hour on this.

There is still one hour left, but I'll extend that to three starting right now.