2012 Election Game-McCain Victory: Gameplay thread

[NewYorkExpress]

A long hot summer is about to turn to fall as the Presidential race begins to heat up. On the Democratic side, it's been a disappointment, as the only candidates are Independent turned Democrat Bernie Sanders, and Joe Manchin. However, there is still time for candidates to enter the race before the primaries begin, and with rumors of a host of high-profile candidates still considering the race, it's an open question how long Sanders and Manchin will have the field to themselves.

Democratic Primaries-National

Bernie Sanders 16%
Joe Manchin 9%

Democrats-Iowa Caucuses

Bernie Sanders 21%
Joe Manchin 8%

Democrats- New Hampshire Primaries

Bernie Sanders 19%
Joe Manchin 10%

Democrats-South Carolina

Bernie Sanders 15%
Joe Manchin 14%

Democrats-Florida

Bernie Sanders 25%
Joe Manchin 8%

Democrats-Nevada

Bernie Sanders 13%
Joe Manchin 7%

On the Republican side, President McCain's decision not to run threw the race wide open. Vice President Palin's entry has energized a conservative base demoralized by President McCain's struggles with a hostile Congress, but she faces a challenge from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has called out the Vice President for being unelectable, a fear shared by many inside the beltway talking heads, who thought Palin would cost McCain the election almost four years ago. Unless another candidate enters the race, this year's Republican nominee will be the first major party female nominee ever for President no matter who wins. Palin is the early leader, but it's anyone's game as of yet. Even with Palin's victory in the Iowa straw poll, this race is wide open.

Republican Primaries-National

Sarah Palin 41%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 29%

Republicans-Iowa Caucus

Sarah Palin 44%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 32%

Republicans-New Hampshire Primaries

Sarah Palin 45%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 32%

Republicans-South Carolina

Sarah Palin 50%
Kay Baliey Hutchison 33%

Republicans-Florida

Sarah Palin 40%
Kay Baliey Hutchison 30%

Republicans-Nevada

Sarah Palin 41%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 36%

Looking ahead to the general election, Sanders and Manchin's low name recognition is hurting them significantly against the two more well-known Republicans. Also not helping is the rumored Independent candidacy of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

General Election Head-to-Heads

Sarah Palin (R) 44%
Bernie Sanders (D) 38%
Michael Bloomberg (I) 5%

Sarah Palin (R) 45%
Joe Manchin (D) 35%
Michael Bloomberg (I) 7%

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) 40%
Bernie Sanders (D) 36%
Michael Bloomberg (I) 6%

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) 42%
Joe Manchin (D) 36%
Michael Bloomberg (I) 6%

News

Libyan Crisis comes to an end, Muammar Qaddafi killed in Sitre

Osama Bin Laden killed by U.S Special forces in Abbotabad

Greece defaults on debt, leaves Eurozone after other members of Eurozone refuse to provide bailout

Roy Moore accused of statutory rape in 1979

This turn will last from September 1, to September 11. You must post a schedule for this turn.

This turn will end when all players have posted a schedule, or on Tuesday October 12, whichever comes first.

[NewYorkExpress]

Breaking News: Hillary Clinton to make second bid for Presidency

Sources close to New York Senator Hillary Clinton have indicated that she will make a second bid for the Presidency. Clinton, who's 2008 campaign ended after finishing third to Edwards and Barack Obama in South Carolina, has dramatically increased her stature in the Senate, having made her way into the leadership, where now serves as Majority Whip,
following Dick Durbin's elevation to the Majority Leadership after Harry Reid's defeat in 2010.

Polling shows Clinton leading nationally, and leading in most early states, largely based on wide name recognition compared to her primary opponents, Joe Manchin and Bernie Sanders.



Democrats-National

Hillary Clinton 50%
Bernie Sanders 16%
Joe Manchin 9%

Democrats-Iowa Caucus

Hillary Clinton 49%
Bernie Sanders 21%
Joe Manchin 8%

Democrats-New Hampshire Primary

Hillary Clinton 39%
Bernie Sanders 19%
Joe Manchin 10%

Democrats-South Carolina Primary

Hillary Clinton 44%
Bernie Sanders 15%
Joe Manchin 14%

Democrats-Florida Primary

Hillary Clinton 53%
Bernie Sanders 20%
Joe Manchin 7%

Democrats-Nevada Caucus

Hillary Clinton 40%
Bernie Sanders 13%
Joe Manchin 6%

[NewYorkExpress]

Endorsements claimed this turn

Kay Bailey Hutchison: Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Illinois Governor Mark Kirk.

Bernie Sanders: Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

Hillary Clinton: Former President Bill Clinton, New York Governor Kirsten Gillibrand

Sarah Palin: Businessman/Reality Show host Donald Trump (I-NY), Senator Mike Huckabee (R-AR)

[NewYorkExpress]

The turn will close shortly (within the next two to three hours) so please get your schedules in if you have not already done so.

I'd like to have turn two started by midnight tonight.

[NewYorkExpress]

Turn One is Closed

Turn Two will be going up momentarily.

[NewYorkExpress]

Turn Two

The Republican Primary has narrowed dramatically, as Vice President Palin was largely absent from campaign trail over the past eleven days. Some have speculated that her absence was due to fallout from some of her campaign endorsements, as the endorsement from reality TV show host Donald Trump did not go over well with many, with Trump using offensive langauge to refer to the Democratic field, and Palin's rival, Kay Bailey Hutchison, in a tweet announcing the endorsement. Palin did receive the high-profile endorsement of the 2008 Iowa Caucus winner, Mike Huckabee, and she'll be looking to ride Huckabee's record in the Caucus to victory in Iowa.

Hutchison, for her part, despite being a conservative has cast herself as a relative moderate, especially compared to Palin, having received the endorsements of moderate Governors Mark Kirk and Charlie Baker in the past week.

Polls show Palin with a shrinking lead nationally, and Hutchison is now within striking distance in all early states.

Republican Primary-National

Sarah Palin 41%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 35%

Republicans-Iowa Caucus

Sarah Palin 43%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 34%

Republicans-New Hampshire Primary

Sarah Palin 40%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 33%

Republicans-Nevada Caucus

Sarah Palin 39%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 35%

Republicans-South Carolina Primary

Sarah Palin 45%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 34%

Republicans-Florida Primary

Sarah Palin 36%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 35%

On the Democratic Side, Hillary Clinton has moved to define her opposition early, going negative against Bernie Sanders and Joe Manchin. Unfortunately for Clinton, her attacks appear to have backfired, as she's suffered a drop in the polls nationally and in Iowa, and Sanders's fundraising has spiked dramatically. Clinton picked up the support of New York Governor Kirsten Gillibrand, to go with one of the most powerful available surrogates in former President Bill Clinton, but Sanders claimed high-profile endorsements from Senators Patrick Leahy and Elizabeth Warren, the President Pro Tempore, and the firebrand progressive from Massachusetts. While he still trails Clinton, he's made up ground quickly, and is making a name for himself early on.

Democratic Primary-National

Hillary Clinton 46%
Bernie Sanders 20%
Joe Manchin 8%

Democratic Primary-Iowa Caucus

Hillary Clinton 41%
Bernie Sanders 21%
Joe Manchin 6%

Democratic Primary-New Hampshire Primary

Hillary Clinton 49%
Bernie Sanders 20%
Joe Manchin 7%

Democratic Primary-Nevada Caucus

Hillary Clinton 45%
Bernie Sanders 15%
Joe Manchin 5%

Democratic Primary- South Carolina Primary

Hillary Clinton 50%
Bernie Sanders 24%
Joe Manchin 5%

Democratic Primary-Florida Primary

Hillary Clinton 42%
Bernie Sanders 17%
Joe Manchin 4%

Democrats lead generic election polling at this time, by a narrow margin.

Generic D 42%
Generic R 39%
Michael Bloomberg (I) 5%

News

NYPD crushes Occupy Wall Street Protests

Stock Market falls 1,200 points as Greece default, fears of Irish, Portuguese default impact trading

Vladimir Putin will run for third term as President of Russia


This turn will be from September 12 until September 24, 2011.

There will be a Republican Primary Debate this turn, held on September 16, at Saint Anselm College, in Goffstown, New Hampshire.

You must submit a schedule, and if playing as a Republican, responses to the debate questions.

The deadline for submitting everything will be Sunday, October 17, sometime in the evening.

[NewYorkExpress]

Republican Primary Debate

What actions would you take to solve the housing crisis?

Would you support military action against Pakistan, in response to their protection of Osama Bin Laden?

Do you support civil unions for same-sex couples?

If passing a tax increase was the only way to avoid the United States defaulting on it's sovereign debt, would you sign such legislation?

Would you support the repeal of NAFTA?

[NewYorkExpress]

Endorsements for this turn

Kay Bailey Hutchison: Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Georgia Governor Karen Handel, Ohio Governor John Kasich, Senator John Thune (R-SD).

Bernie Sanders: Senator Jeff Merkely (D-OR).

Joe Manchin: Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN-7).

Hillary Clinton: Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

[NewYorkExpress]

Breaking: Barack Obama to enter race

Senator Barack Obama will launch a second bid for President, sources close to the Illinois Senator say.

Obama, whose 2008 campaign ended after he failed to win a majority of delegates on Super Tuesday, has seen his stature in the Senate enhanced, as he served as the chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2010, and easily won reelection against Bruce Rauner.

Polling currently shows a tight battle between Obama and Hillary Clinton, with Bernie Sanders close behind in third.

Democratic Primary-National

Hillary Clinton 35%
Barack Obama 30%
Bernie Sanders 20%
Joe Manchin 7%

Democrats-Iowa Caucus

Hillary Clinton 34%
Barack Obama 31%
Bernie Sanders 20%
Joe Manchin 5%

Democrats-New Hampshire Primary

Hillary Clinton 35%
Barack Obama 33%
Bernie Sanders 19%
Joe Manchin 6%

Democrats-Nevada Caucus

Barack Obama 36%
Hillary Clinton 36%
Bernie Sanders 15%
Joe Manchin 4%

Democrats-South Carolina Primary

Hillary Clinton 35%
Barack Obama 35%
Bernie Sanders 18%
Joe Manchin 7%

Democrats-Florida Primary

Hillary Clinton 37%
Barack Obama 34%
Bernie Sanders 19%
Joe Manchin 5%

[NewYorkExpress]

Turn Two will end when either iBizbee or MyCool posts their turn and debate responses.

[NewYorkExpress]

We're still waiting on debate responses from MyCool before I begin to close the turn.

For iBizbee and Ishan, the next turn will be your last chance to post something, or I will kick you out.

[NewYorkExpress]

We're still waiting on debate responses from MyCool before I begin to close the turn.

For iBizbee and Ishan, the next turn will be your last chance to post something, or I will kick you out.

I’ll get those debate responses in by tonight! Thanks for the patience, real life has been really hectic this week.

Don't worry about it. At least you are remembering to post.

[NewYorkExpress]

Okay, I've delayed the turn's ending long enough.

This turn will end tonight, with the next turn beginning some time tomorrow.

[NewYorkExpress]

The next turn will be posted later today.

I have to ask everyone if you all wish for the game to continue, as there is a startling lack of activity.

[NewYorkExpress]

The next turn will be posted later today.

I have to ask everyone if you all wish for the game to continue, as there is a startling lack of activity.

I don't really care either way that much, at this point, since I'm probably going to have Manchin drop out soon enough given how badly he's doing in all the early states. But I'd currently say that you should keep the game running and those who don't want to play anymore can choose to leave, at least for now.

If I were you I'd stay in for a little bit longer. There'll be a debate next turn, and that could be Manchin's moment to shine.

[NewYorkExpress]

A rather quiet turn, and a skipped debate, meant stagnation on the Republican side. Kay Bailey Hutchison did take the lead in the primary race, largely due to being the only active campaigner, but her gains appear to be soft. Hutchison also made major gains on the endorsement front, racking up endorsements from several high-profile politicians, most notably Senate Minority Whip John Thune, and the Governors of the battleground states of Ohio and Virginia, John Kasich and Bob McDonnell.

Republicans-National

Kay Bailey Hutchison 39%
Sarah Palin 39%

Republicans-Iowa

Sarah Palin 40%
Kay Bailey Hutchison 37%

Republicans-New Hampshire

Kay Bailey Hutchison 39%
Sarah Palin 36%

Republicans-Nevada

Kay Bailey Hutchison 41%
Sarah Palin 38%

Republicans-South Carolina

Kay Bailey Hutchison 37%
Sarah Palin 37%

Republicans-Florida

Kay Bailey Hutchison 39%
Sarah Palin 39%

By virtue of being the only active campaigner last turn, Joe Manchin made significant gains in the polls, jumping from a distant fourth, to passing Bernie Sanders for third in most major polls.  Hillary Clinton still leads the endorsement race, picking up the endorsements of her fellow New York Senator, Chuck Schumer, and California Senator Dianne Feinstein. However, both Manchin and Sanders have picked up significant endorsements of their own. Sanders added the endorsement of Senator Jeff Merkely of Oregon, and Manchin added the endorsement of the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson (D-MN).

Democrats-National

Hillary Clinton 34%
Barack Obama 30%
Joe Manchin 17%
Bernie Sanders 16%

Democrats-Iowa

Hillary Clinton 35%
Barack Obama 29%
Bernie Sanders 20%
Joe Manchin 11%

Democrats-New Hampshire

Hillary Clinton 40%
Barack Obama 21%
Joe Manchin 15%
Bernie Sanders 15%

Democrats-Nevada

Hillary Clinton 30%
Joe Manchin 19%
Barack Obama 19%
Bernie Sanders 19%

Democrats-South Carolina

Hillary Clinton 41%
Barack Obama 32%
Joe Manchin 12%
Bernie Sanders 9%

Democrats-Florida

Hillary Clinton 39%
Barack Obama 22%
Joe Manchin 16%
Bernie Sanders 13%

News

Dianne Feinstein announces retirement, Attorney General Kamala Harris and Representative Hilda Solis enter primary to replace her.

Five women accuse Al Franken of sexual assault, Franken to resign from the Senate.

Governor Rybak appoints Betsy Hodges to fill vacancy caused by Franken resignation.

Kim Jong-il dies at 70, Kim Jong-un to be named as successor.

This turn will last from September 25 until October 10, 2007. There will be a Democratic Primary debate this turn, held on October 1, at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino's Penn and Teller Theater, in Paradise, Nevada.

The deadline to submit all material for this turn is Sunday, October 31.

[NewYorkExpress]

Democratic Primary Debate

Given Osama Bin Laden was hiding out for years in Pakistan with the support of the Pakistani Military, would you, as President, support sanctions or military action against Pakistan?

How would you fix the ongoing housing crisis here in Nevada?

What steps would you take to ensure that the United States never defaults on it's sovereign debt?

Would you support the legalization of online gambling?

Would you support a health care plan, similar to that passed by Secretary of Commerce Romney when he was Governor of Massachusetts?

Given that we have two vacancies on the Supreme Court at the moment, name at least one person you would consider nominating to fill those vacancies.