Midterm Game Thread

[S019]

So, please vote on what type of game you want above and if you want something else please specify below, this will also serve as the game thread, once the type of game desired is decided. NOTE: I thought it would be appropriate for the midterm/president game to have the midterm occur first, that way people who only want to play the midterm game can opt out for the second half.

[NewYorkExpress]

Obviously, I'm going to back my own idea.

If the 2006 midterms/2008 Presidential elections get chosen, BTW, I'm letting you know in advance that I want to play as Hillary Clinton (she was up for reelection to her Senate seat in 2006.)

[S019]

Obviously, I'm going to back my own idea.

If the 2006 midterms/2008 Presidential elections get chosen, BTW, I'm letting you know in advance that I want to play as Hillary Clinton (she was up for reelection to her Senate seat in 2006.)

ok, noted

[S019]

So, by a large majority, the game chosen is NYE's idea of a midterm and then a presidential election and we will start in 2006.

I will now open the game to those who wish to join and those who would like to reserve their candidates, (note NYE has already reserved Hillary Clinton for both games)

You may pick from any of these incumbents or you may be a challenger (if you are sure if the choice of a challenger is unrealistic, PM me before requesting, but I'll be very lenient with which challengers to allow)


Anyways Senate:

Arizona Kyl (R)
California Feinstein (D)
Primary Challenger: Kamala Harris (D)——AshtonShabazz
Connecticut Lieberman (D)
R Candidate: John McKinney (R)----FairBol
Delaware Carper (D)
Florida Nelson (D)
Hawaii Akaka (D)
Indiana Lugar (R)
Maine Snowe (R)
Maryland OPEN (D) (Sarbanes retired)
Massachusetts Kennedy (D)
Michigan Stabenow (D)
Minnesota OPEN (D) (Dayton retired)
Mississippi Lott (R)
Missouri Talent (R)
Montana Burns (R)
Nebraska Nelson (D)
Nevada Ensign (R)
New Jersey Menendez (D)
New Mexico Bingaman (D)
New York Clinton (D)-----New York Express
Ohio DeWine (R)
Pennsylvania Santorum (R)
Rhode Island Chafee (R) )
Tennessee OPEN (R) (Frist retired)
D Candidate: Harold Ford Jr.-----JacksonHitchcock
Texas Hutchison (R)
Utah Hatch (R)
Washington Cantwell (D)
West Virginia Byrd (D)
Vermont OPEN (D/I)
D Candidate: Bernie Sanders (D)----GotFan
R Candidat: Jim Douglas (R)----KaiserDave
Virginia Allen (R)-----South Carolina Aaron
Wisconsin Kohl (D)
Wyoming Thomas (R)

House:

You may pick any House incumbent other than those below (you may still run as a candidate for the seat though), you are of course also welcome to run for a challenger to any seat

AZ-08: Jim Kolbe (R)
CA-22: Bill Thomas (R)
CO-05: Joel Hefley (R)
FL-09: Michael Bilirakis (R)
IL-06: Henry Hyde (R)
IL-17: Lane Evans (D)
MN-05: Martin Olav Sabo (D)
NY-11: Major Owens (D)
NY-24: Sherwood Bohlert (R)
OH-04: Mike Oxley (R)
OH-18: Bob Ney (R)
TN-01: William Jenkins (R)


Governor:

Alabama Riley (R)
D Candidate: Doug Jones (D)-----FalterinArc
Alaska Murkowski (R)
Arizona Napolitano (D)
Arkansas OPEN (R) (Huckabee retired)
California Schwarzenegger (R)
Colorado OPEN (R) (Owens retired)
Connecticut Rell (R)
Florida OPEN (R) (Bush retired)
Georgia Perdue (R)
Hawaii Lingle (R)
Idaho OPEN (R) (Risch retired)
Illinois Blagojevich (D)
Iowa OPEN (D) (Vilsack retired)
Kansas Sebelius (D)
Maine Baldacci (D)
Maryland Ehrlich (R)
Massachusetts OPEN (R) (Romney retired)
Michigan Granholm (D)
Minnesota Pawlenty (R)
Nebraska Heineman (R)
Nevada OPEN (R) (Guinn retired)
New Hampshire Lynch (D)
New Mexico Richardson (D)
New York OPEN (R) (Pataki retired)
R Candidate: Bill Weld (R)———Ishan
D Candidate: Tom Suozzi (D)-----New York Express
Ohio OPEN (R) (Taft retired)
Oklahoma Henry (D)
Oregon Kulongoski (D)
Pennsylvania Rendell (D)
Rhode Island Carcieri (R)
South Carolina Sanford (R)
South Dakota Rounds (R)
Tennessee Bredesen (D)
Texas Perry (R)
Vermont OPEN (R) (Douglas Retired)
Wisconsin Doyle (D)
Wyoming Freudenthal (D)


Also available to be played

NRSC Chair: RGM2609
DSCC Chair: NewYorkExpress
NRCC Chair: RGM2609
DCCC Chair: JacksonHitchcock
DGA Chair:
NGA Chair:

Due to the unusually high amount of races in this game, the rules are that you can claim two races and one chair position (I will bump it to three races, if needed), people are now welcome to sign up, polling for these races as well as the first turn will be up soon (I know that the chairs are also elected officials, but I think that this system will make it easier for those who wish to run the campaigns to run them).

I will explain more rules once the turn is up (this is for those who want to play, to start thinking about who they would like to play as, but I wouldn't recommend choosing until the polling numbers are up, also for the sake of simplicity, I used the IRL retirements of incumbents who did not retire to pursue higher office.)

[NewYorkExpress]

I never said Hillary was actually going to run for President in 2008... I mean, that's the obvious assumption, but I never said that.

Also, I'd like to claim San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who I would like to wage a long-shot primary campaign for Governor of California against Arnold Schwarzneggar.

[John King wannabe]

I never said Hillary was actually going to run for President in 2008... I mean, that's the obvious assumption, but I never said that.

Also, I'd like to claim San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who I would like to wage a long-shot primary campaign for Governor of California against Arnold Schwarzneggar.

I already claimed her.

[Continential]

For Pataki's seat, I'd like to claim Bill Weld

[RGM2609]

Could I head both the NRCC and the NRSC and take no races?

[S019]

I never said Hillary was actually going to run for President in 2008... I mean, that's the obvious assumption, but I never said that.

Also, I'd like to claim San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who I would like to wage a long-shot primary campaign for Governor of California against Arnold Schwarzneggar.

Okay noted, also I can confirm that Harris is reserved

I never said Hillary was actually going to run for President in 2008... I mean, that's the obvious assumption, but I never said that.

Also, I'd like to claim San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, who I would like to wage a long-shot primary campaign for Governor of California against Arnold Schwarzneggar.

I already claimed her.

Can confirm, will provide PM records if needed

For Pataki's seat, I'd like to claim Bill Weld

Noted

Could I head both the NRCC and the NRSC and take no races?

Since these roles will likely have low demand, I’ll allow this unless someone else who has no committees requests one of these committees

[Orwell]

I'd like to be like RGM and claim the DSCC and DCCC but I'd like to hard claim the DCCC and if someone wants to take the DSCC I'll take Harold Ford Jr. running for TN Senate. 

[NewYorkExpress]

Very well, for my second race, I'll take Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi (an actual candidate for Governor of New York in 2006- he lost in the primary to Eliot Spitzer.)

I'm also willing to play as either the chair of the DSCC or the DCCC depending on what other players decide to do.

[John King wannabe]

San Francisco D.A announces exploratory committee for 2006 California Senate Seat

In a recent press conference, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris announced the formation of an exploratory committee to explore the idea of challenging Senator Dianne Feinstein for re-election.

Ever since I was elected District Attorney in 2003, I have seen the struggles of everyday average Americans. Whether it be challenging truancy or fighting against the death penalty. I have taken on an approach of leadership that not many can question.

So I ask you all this simple question: What has our current Government done for you? Unemployment is on the rise, millions of Californian homeowners are losing their homes. And it is getting harder and harder every day for people all across this country to find a job, but what has our current leaders in the Senate do? Well, they sat quietly and watched President Bush destroy this economy and leave millions of American workers in the dark.

So that is why I am announcing I am forming an exploratory committee to run for the United States Senate from California in 2006. Thank you all and I will see you guys later

[GoTfan]

May I claim Bernie Sanders in Vermont?

[NewYorkExpress]

Hillary Clinton files for reelection

July 10, 2005

Ending speculation that she would not run for reelection to begin a bid for President early, incumbent Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) filed for reelection this morning. Most local analysts believe she will be a heavy favorite over any Republican opposition, meaning she will be free to campaign for Democrats nationwide, something she needs to do if she wants to run for President in 2008.

Hillary Clinton makes opening endorsements of 2005-2006 election cycle

Hillary Clinton made her first endorsements of the 2005-2006 election season, endorsing John Corzine for Governor of New Jersey, and Tim Kaine for Governor of Virginia in a press release. Clinton will be holding fundraisers at her homes in both Washington and New York for both Corzine and Kaine, leading up to Election Day 2005.

[S019]

I'd like to be like RGM and claim the DSCC and DCCC but I'd like to hard claim the DCCC and if someone wants to take the DSCC I'll take Harold Ford Jr. running for TN Senate.  

Since NYE expressed interest in one of these committees, I'll reserve the DCCC for you, however since he doesn't have a committee, I'll give him priority for the DSCC. Also Ford is reserved for you, depending on what NYE decides.

EDIT: NYE has claimed the DSCC, so I've reserved Harold Ford for you

Very well, for my second race, I'll take Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi (an actual candidate for Governor of New York in 2006- he lost in the primary to Eliot Spitzer.)

I'm also willing to play as either the chair of the DSCC or the DCCC depending on what other players decide to do.

Noted, also JacksonHitchcock has reserved the DCCC, would you like to reserve the DSCC (it's unclear from your post, if you wish to or not)

May I claim Bernie Sanders in Vermont?

Noted

[NewYorkExpress]

I'd like to be like RGM and claim the DSCC and DCCC but I'd like to hard claim the DCCC and if someone wants to take the DSCC I'll take Harold Ford Jr. running for TN Senate.  

Since NYE expressed interest in one of these committees, I'll reserve the DCCC for you, however since he doesn't have a committee, I'll give him priority for the DSCC. Also Ford is reserved for you, depending on what NYE decides.

Very well, for my second race, I'll take Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi (an actual candidate for Governor of New York in 2006- he lost in the primary to Eliot Spitzer.)

I'm also willing to play as either the chair of the DSCC or the DCCC depending on what other players decide to do.

Noted, also JacksonHitchcock has reserved the DCCC, would you like to reserve the DSCC (it's unclear from your post, if you wish to or not)

May I claim Bernie Sanders in Vermont?

Noted

Sure, I'd love the DSCC (that way I can steer Hillary lots of money at the expense of everyone else.)

[S019]

I'd like to be like RGM and claim the DSCC and DCCC but I'd like to hard claim the DCCC and if someone wants to take the DSCC I'll take Harold Ford Jr. running for TN Senate.  

Since NYE expressed interest in one of these committees, I'll reserve the DCCC for you, however since he doesn't have a committee, I'll give him priority for the DSCC. Also Ford is reserved for you, depending on what NYE decides.

Very well, for my second race, I'll take Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi (an actual candidate for Governor of New York in 2006- he lost in the primary to Eliot Spitzer.)

I'm also willing to play as either the chair of the DSCC or the DCCC depending on what other players decide to do.

Noted, also JacksonHitchcock has reserved the DCCC, would you like to reserve the DSCC (it's unclear from your post, if you wish to or not)

May I claim Bernie Sanders in Vermont?

Noted

Sure, I'd love the DSCC (that way I can steer Hillary lots of money at the expense of everyone else.)

Okay noted

[GoTfan]

Congressman Bernie Sanders forms exploratory committee for possible Senate bid


[Credit: Wikimedia Commons]

Reports suggest today that Vermont's sole Congressman since 1992, Bernie Sanders, has begun exploring a run for the US Senate.

The self-described democratic socialist has made a name as a fierce critic of the ongoing Iraq War and of the Bush administration's economic policies. He has called for Glass-Steagall to be reinstated and has argued for an overhaul of current trade policy, which he argues harms American workers.

Sanders is yet to answer whether he would run as an Independent or Democrat, given his high approvals with Vermont Democrats.

[NewYorkExpress]

Tom Suozzi announces Gubernatorial bid

August 1, 2005

Roosevelt Field, Garden City, New York

After almost twelve years of Governor Pataki, don't you think it's time for a change? Well, we're not going to get the change we need from the other Democrats who are running, like, the showman that is our Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer. You don't need to be a talky, showboaty kind of guy to be an effective prosecutor. The District Attorney here in Nassau, Denis Dillion, is a low-key guy who doesn't crave attention the way Spitzer does. And then there's the Republican race. That primary looks like it'd be between a guy who's too right-wing for our state in John Faso, and a carpetbagger from Massachusetts in William Weld. I wasn't a fan of Bobby Kennedy's carpetbagging, and I wasn't a fan of Hillary Clinton's carpetbagging in that they took elected positions from actual New Yorkers, but Weld's is the worst of it all. He was literally Governor of another state!

When I'm elected, we'll open up the doors of the legislature. No more of this "three men in a room business". We'll produce an on-time budget, every year. We'll do things New Yorkers never dreamed would be happening, such as legalizing online gambling in New York, passing redistricting reform, passing ethics reform for legislators, new hockey arena, subsidized by New York State for the New York Islanders and a new football stadium, also subsidized by New York State, for the Buffalo Bills.

Following the announcement speech Suozzi released a poll from Public Policy Polling.

The internal poll shows him trailing Spitzer by a 35-29 margin.

Suozzi leads Faso 37-32

Suozzi leads Weld 37-30

[S019]

Turn 1 (This turn will end Saturday September 12)

May 2005 to September 2005


Initial ratings:

Senate:

House:
Arizona       1      Likely Republican
California       11      Likely Republican
California       26      Likely Republican
California       50      Likely Republican
Colorado 3     Leans Democratic
Colorado 4 Leans Republican
Colorado 7 Toss-up
Connecticut       2 Leans Republican
Connecticut       4 Leans Republican
Connecticut       5      Likely Republican
Florida 22 Leans Republican
Georgia 3 Toss-up Read more
Georgia 12 Leans Democratic
Iowa 1 Toss-up
Iowa 3 Leans Democratic
Illinois       6      Likely Republican
Illinois 8 Toss-up
Indiana     2       Likely Republican
Indiana 8 Toss-up
Indiana 9 Leans Republican
Kansas       3      Likely Democratic
Kentucky       3      Likely Republican
Louisiana 3 Toss-up
Louisiana 7 Leans Republican
Minnesota 2 Leans Republican
Minnesota 6 Leans Republican
Nevada       3      Likely Republican
New Mexico 1 Leans Republican
New York       1       Likely Democratic
New York       27     Likely Democratic
New York       29     Likely Republican
North Carolina   8      Likely Republican
North Carolina   11 Leans Republican
North Dakota    AL     Likely Democratic
Ohio 2      Likely Republican
Ohio 6 Toss-up
Ohio 18 Leans Republican
Pennsylvania 6 Toss-up
Pennsylvania 8 Leans Republican
Pennsylvania      10    Likely Republican
South Dakota AL Leans Democratic
Tennessee   4      Likely Democratic
Texas 17 Leans Democratic
Texas 22 Leans Republican
Utah 2 Leans Democratic
Vermont AL Leans Democratic
Washington       2      Likely Republican
Washington 8 Leans Republican
Wisconsin 8 Leans Republican

Governor:

Committee Rules:

Committees will begin each turn with $10 million and 6 credits, committees will receive $1 mil for every lean/tossup state that they are leading in and $500,000 for every likely/safe state that they are leading in. These numbers will increase as election day approaches.

Committees may spend on the following

Ads: $250,000 per 15 sec ad
     $500,000 per 30 sec ad
     $100,000 per radio ad
Internal polling: $10,000 per poll

Credits: Credits are used to recruit candidates (please note that some candidates will not require credits, however if you want to recruit better candidates than the IRL 2006 midterms or want to keep some of the best IRL candidates, you will likely need to use credits, you may inquire about how many credits a specific politician will require (this rule is mostly because I don't want top recruits in every single race, because that's not realistic)).

Candidate rules:

Candidates will begin each turn with $2 million, the same ad rates apply for ads or internal polling. You may also fundraise, barnstorm, hold town halls, or the various other things that you can do when running for office. Candidates are advised to post a schedule for the turn as well, while you will not be penalized if you don't do it, it may be difficult for me to judge your campaign without a schedule being posted. Candidates will also receive credits (please note you cannot transfer credits between candidates and committees). Candidates will start each turn with 5 credits (this number will go up or down depending on how your campaign is progressing), you may request endorsements or internal polling (which will be more reliable than the public polling posted here, which may be subject to IRL biases in polling). Internal polls shall cost 2 credits and endorsements shall cost 4 credits, if the person is a current or former holder of federal elected office or if they are a current or former member of the President's Cabinet, 2 credits shall be charged for Governors, and 1 credit shall be charged for state politicians, no credits shall be charged for other endorsements (including celebrities or those who worked in career government jobs, provided they did not advance into the Cabinet or elected office). However, if you are accepting the endorsement of another user, you do not need to spend credits to accept that endorsement, regardless of the endorser's political office.


Turn 1, please post your schedules as well as any ads that you wish to run, all candidates have been given their $2 mil as well as their 5 credits (please note if you go over either of these limits, I will first alert you to fix it, if it isn't fixed, I will only count your first posts before you went over the limit (for instance, say you ran 7 ads, but only could afford 5, I'll only count the first 5 in that case). Additionally, if you have a committee, please list at least 5 races that you plan to put resources into (while this isn't required, it will help you get credits and thus allow you to get better recruits and expand your map). Please do PM me before posting endorsements though, mostly so that I can make sure they make sense (i.e. Rick Perry endorsing Claire McCaskill doesn't make sense, you get the point). Most importantly, have fun.

Also starting next turn, each turn will be preceded by polling, however given I'm not sure who exactly you guys plan to recruit, I can't provide public polling, however private polling is allowed for this round, and PM me with the candidate that you would like to be polled, if you wish to conduct that.

One last thing: if you wish, you may still join the game, which is part of why the turn lasts so long.

[NewYorkExpress]

Schedule for Hillary Clinton Part One

May-July 10

Begin preparations for reelection-assemble team for reelection 2008 Presidential campaign. The Clinton team wants to begin discussion of a 2008 Presidential run immediately after winning reelection.

July 10, 2005

Submit paperwork to FEC declaring candidacy for United States Senate.

July 11, 2005

Meet Voters, Montauk, New York

July 12, 2005

Fundraiser for Anthony Weiner's New York City Mayoral Campaign, Kew Gardens, Queens ($1,500 a head for a Q&A session with Clinton and Weiner)

July 13-15

Senate duties Washington D.C

July 16, 2005

Fundraiser for John Corzine, The Borgata, Atlantic City, New Jersey (Participants will be paying $1,000 to enter a Texas Hold'em Tournament, of which half the proceeds will go to Corzine's campaign. Hillary Clinton will enter the tournament, and anyone who knocks her out will win a signed photograph of her, dated from the 1996 Presidential Campaign)

July 17-28

Senate duties, Washington D.C

July 29, 2005

Fundraiser for Tim Kaine, Creigh Deeds and Leslie Byrne for Governor of Virginia, Attorney General of Virginia and Lieutenant Governor of Virginia in Rosslyn, Virginia ($2,000 a head earns a Q&A with Clinton and the three candidates)

[NewYorkExpress]

OOC: I'm trying to convince UWS to join us, since I think we're rather short on people playing as Republicans, quite honestly.

It's kind of depressing to me, anyways that the only Republican currently is Bill Weld.

[GoTfan]

Sanders Changes Party Registration

[credit: Wikimedia Commons]

This morning, it was revealed that Congressman Bernie Sanders has changed his party registration, officially joining the Democratic Party after nearly a decade and a half of caucusing with the party in the House.

Some have raised concerns that attaching the Democratic label to Sanders might eat away at some of his appeal to Republican-affiliated voters, the white-haired progressive remains confident he can keep them on his side.

Some have suggested this is an indication Sanders intends to run in the Democratic primary for the Vermont Senate race, but Sanders himself has remained quiet on the election.

[VirginiaAaron]

Can I claim George Allen please?

[Left Wing]

Can I run as Doug Jones against Bob Riley?