Fear and Loathing in 72’ – The Election Game (Sign Up and Rules Thread)

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Fear and Loathing in 72'

It’s January 1972 and Richard Nixon’s presidency stands at the crossroads, having spent the past three years trying to enact his platform against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, growing economic troubles and the increasing social and political mistrust of the turbulent seventies. With the Democratic Party having clearly won the 1970 Midterms and sensing Nixon to be somewhat vulnerable several prominent Democrats announce their candidacies, many of them realizing that the sweeping changes enacted by McGovern commission will make the 1972 Primaries vastly different than the ones held four years ago.

With millions of new young voters as a potential political goldmine and a reformed primary system, who shall be the Democratic challenger to bring the fight to the President? Can Richard Nixon overcome distrust from liberals and conservatives? Will the so called “Silent Majority” emerge once again to deliver a second term for the GOP at the White House?

It’s up to you.

Rules

1.- The Game will cover from January 2nd to November 8th of 1972 (all of it except candidacy announcements is from OTL) , divided onto three main phases:

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2.- The in-game length of turns will vary from days to an entire month depending on the circumstances, but all turns will last 48 to 72 hours (no more) depending on the number of schedules posted. Note that this is 1972, so don’t have your candidate go to five states on a single day. Duly informing of a turn absence will yield no penalty, but simply not posting will harm you.

3.- Contact me for endorsements! That said, the Democratic nomination will have a special number of endorsers blocked from the start who will be available as the game moves forward. Those are: The Manchester Union Leader/William Loeb, Mayor Richard Daley, Former President Lyndon Johnson, Mr. George Meany and Senator Edward Kennedy (the “top” five endorsers”).

4.- DO NOT FORGET: The primary system from 1972 was different from the current one, so I’ve made adjustments on gameplay to compensate:

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5.- We will have debates. OTL 1972 Primary had four of them, and we might have more if I decide the time is right or there’s enough player interest.

6.- Like other games, I will use a number randomizer to determine positive and negative news for the candidates (credit goes to Spamage and SJoyce on their idea): 1-5 will be negative experiences (1 being terrible news) and 45-50 will be positive experiences (50 being a huge boost). 5-45 will be no news.

7.- Third Party candidates are allowed to join, but their gameplay will be focused on the General Election. Of course, if they wish to update on their efforts and play early they are free to do so, but it’s not the focus of the Primary Phase.

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Candidate List:

While the focus is on the large number of OTL candidates you can potentially request someone from outside this list, provided I approve them first:

-Republican Party:

President Richard Nixon (R-CA) - ChairmanSanchez
Representative Barry Goldwater Jr. (R-CA) - MadmanMotley
Mr. Howard J. Morgens - Potus
Representative John Ashbrook (R-CA) - Dkrol - Withdrawn

-Democratic Party:

Senator George McGovern (D-SD) - NeverAgain
Mayor Sam Yorty (D-CA) - Spiral
Senator Fred Harris (D-OK) vivaportugalhabs
Senator Edmund "Ed" Muskie (D-ME) - YPestis25
Congressman Morris "Mo" Udall (D-AZ) - Kingpoleon
Governor Jimmy Carter (D-GA) - NewYorkExpress
Former Senator Eugene McCarthy (D-MN) - Wulfric
Governor George Wallace (D-AL) - Intell
Mayor John Lindsay (D-NY) - Maxwell
Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK) - Leinad
Representative Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) - Barnes

-Peace and Freedom Party:

Dr. Benjamin Spock (P-CT)

-American Independent Party:

Governor George Wallace (D-AL) - Rpryor03

-Independents:

Representative John G. Schmitz (R-CA) - Classic Conservative

Primary and Caucus Schedule:

-Note: Not all of the dates in the 1972 Primary Calendar are clear, so I’ve taken the liberty to craft a customized schedule for both parties including the known dates and some guesses.

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I claim Richard Nixon.

Welcome, Mr. President!

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Can I take Ted Kennedy?

Well, I'd prefer to leave Kennedy out, given that he would be an instant frontrunner with probably too much strength for his nomination.

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Wallace for AIP.

Noted, Governor!

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Jimmy Carter's my first choice... though if he's a no go, I'll take McGovern instead.

You could have Carter, but you have to remember he's just served as Governor for a single year, which would make him even more of a long shot than 1976. I leave it up to you!

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Jimmy Carter's my first choice... though if he's a no go, I'll take McGovern instead.

You could have Carter, but you have to remember he's just served as Governor for a single year, which would make him even more of a long shot than 1976. I leave it up to you!

I'd argue he has a better shot than Chisolm, Lindsay or Yorty.

Fairly good argument, Carter is yours!

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Saigon Sam Yorty, please!

Can I take Barry AuH2O Jr?

Both noted, gentlemen!

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I'll take McCarthy (as a Democrat)

Welcome to the game!

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I'll go with Ed Muskie

I'll take Ashbrook, then.

Noted! With Goldwater and Ashbrook in I will only accept one more challenger to Nixon, from the liberal wing of the party. If things go right we might have enough players to start the game tomorrow.

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I'll take John Lindsay, thank you very much.

Could I take Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK)?

Welcome to the game!

I claim Larry McDonald, he will be running in the newly formed John Birch Party.

Sorry, Classic Conservative, but McDonald was not even a Representative in 1972, not to mention that with Wallace running and with primary challenger Ashbrook a McDonald run would be highly unlikely. Isn't there any other character you might be interested on?

Howard J Morgens, the brilliant CEO of Proctor and Gamble. Ability to self-fund and running with a central focus on the economy.

Should I run as an independent or Republican?

I must say you surprised me, Potus, I really don't know anything about Howard Morgens, nor can I find any political info on him. Any chance you could expand on him to see if he can be playable?

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I claim Congressman John G. Schmitz running as an Independent.

Noted!

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Right, I've added some candidates notified via PM as well.

Turn one begins later today, so prepare your announcement speeches for that one!

Important: One of the main characteristics of 1972 and 1976 was the entrance of late candidates into the contest, which I will allow for game purposes. Anyone who wishes to join the race will have until May 9, 1972, the deadline for the California and South Dakota Primaries.

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YPestis25, I've been trying to message you back with the endorsement request, but it says your inbox is full.

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I'll join as Shirley Chisholm.

Welcome, Congresswoman! You can start right away if you wish, the turn ends tomorrow.

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To be honest, I'll wait until the beginning of the next turn to have a full cycle to work with.

Ok!

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Could I join as Charles Matthias, with the potential to run as an independent?

You may enter, Senator, although I have to approve an independent bit if it comes to that (this means no more Republicans are allowed for the time being). Do you plan to join next round or announce now? (I ask because the turn will either end today or tomorrow)

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I want to play the most Fear and Loathing Fear and Loathing.  William J. Westmoreland for the Republican Nomination.

He already closed Republican nominations I think.

Indeed, I have closed Republican nominations for now because three challengers to Richard Nixon is more than enough. You could wait for the unlikely event of a spot being opened there, or choose one of the Democrats (as that field is open until we have, say, ten candidates or so).

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I want to play the most Fear and Loathing Fear and Loathing.  William J. Westmoreland for the Republican Nomination.

He already closed Republican nominations I think.

Indeed, I have closed Republican nominations for now because three challengers to Richard Nixon is more than enough. You could wait for the unlikely event of a spot being opened there, or choose one of the Democrats (as that field is open until we have, say, ten candidates or so).

How about challenging George Wallace?

In the American Independent Party? I'm afraid that can't be posible, information is barely available for many important parts of the Democratic and Republican primaries, much less the AIP, so simulating a primary there would truly be a logistical nightmate for me.