Talk Elections

Ok, I think this idea is popular enough, so I'll begin it,

here are my rules:

Each participant will be managing the campaign of a politician of their choice. The politician has to be alive as of this posting. The politician has to be a real person, and the more famous they are the more recognition points your candidate will get.

You may choose the party the candidate will enter the primaries for. You can enter as many as you want. However, keep in mind the party memberships. 

The parties you can choose from are as follows:

Centrist Democratic Party (Populist, centre right)
Democratic Union (Conservative, right wing)
Socialist Party (Social Democratic)
Liberal Party (Liberal, from left to right liberals)
Green Party (Green)
Communist Party (Communism, Trostkyist, etc)

Your candidate may also run as an independent, but if you choose only this, you can't run in the primaries.

Once enough time has passed, I will hold the primaries. Each candidate will get some money to spend in the mean time. I will give each candidate a starting amount based on how much name recognition they have. You can spend your money by doing different campaigny things in this thread. If you campaign well, you will get more money. Remember, being in more than one primary may dilute your funds!

Primaries will be held, with a different continent each night. Each country will hold a separate primary and will be worth a certain amount of delegates. Each delegate will be worth 1 million people. Larger countries will be divided up if they exceed 30 delegates, I'll make maps later. If a country has less than 500,000 it will share a primary with a neighbouring country until they get over 1 million together.

The winner of each primary will go the general election along with any independents. Those who are not independents will receive bonus money at this point based on their support.

ok, LET THE GAME BEGIN :)

Please post the following

Name of candidate:
Party(ies):
Other info:

John Thune
Centrist Democratic Party
Thune is a first term Senator from the United States state South Dakota. Thune also served in the United States house of Representatives.

U.S. Senator first candidate to declare intentions to run for President of the World

With the World Elections Board opening up nominations for President today, it did not take long before the first candidate announced his intentions of running for President. John Thune, a conservative still in his first term as a U.S. Senator filed his nomination papers today. He will run for the nomination of the Centrist Democratic Party, a coalition of moderate conservatives around the world. Thune served as a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives for six years before being elected to the Senate representing the small state of South Dakota in 2004. Thune is a member of the Republican Party of the U.S., and is considered among the conservative mainstream of the party which is expected to back the more right wing Democratic Union Party.

Thune will be starting out with a campaign war chest of $2 million.

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Thune's announcement from the South Dakota State Capital:

"I come together in front of my family, friends, colleagues, countrymen, and My Fellow Citizens of the world to announce my candidacy for President of the World. Our world is the backbone of our society, and for too long the world has been fighting over simple and complex issues, thanks to liberal stances on the issues in most of the world. I figured that everyone has had enough of infighting and wars with our neighbors, and want successful, and solid leadership, which can only be brought through a conservative candidate. I want to be considered that candidate.

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A Photo from Thune's announcement speech.

Also missing from our world is strong religious, and family values.  Despite attempts by past leaders, these issues have been dropped to the background. I attend to bring these issues up, and also include the important issues, and how i plan to fix the issues. Despite my youth, i believe that i can get more things accomplished than any other candidate. With me as President, every part of the world will be equally respected and will have equal time. Thank you all for coming, and together we will win. Thank you."

Name of candidate: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Party: Socialist Party
Other info: President of Brazil (2003-2011), trade unionist, founding member of the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT).

'Lula' first Socialist candidate to enter race for President

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva has entered the race for President of the World. The 64 year old has been president of Brazil for the last 7 years. Lula has decided to run for the nomination of the Socialist Party, which seems an appropriate fit for his native Workers' Party. It is likely that Lula will have the backing of much of Latin America's moderate left wing. Before his term as president, Lula served as a Federal Duputy from 1986 to 1991. Lula is the second person to declare his intentions for President of the World. U.S. Senator John Thune announced his intentions last night for the Centrist Democrat Party.

Lula will be starting out with a campaign war chest of $80 million.

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Name of candidate: Gordon Brown
Party: Socialist
Other info: Former British Prime Minister (2007-2010), currently on a speaking tour.

I haven't really got time to play this, but I think that given the current economic crisis, Peter Costello (Member for Higgins, 1990-2009, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, 1994-2007, Treasurer of Australia, 1996-2007, Chair of OECD Ministerial, 2000, Chair of APEC Finance Ministers, 2007, Chair of the G20, 2006, a Governor of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank for ~10 years, currently on an Independent Advisory Board to the World Bank) would make a strong candidate.

Fiscally conservative, he delivered twelve consecutive federal budgets, ten of which were surpluses. He paid off over $96 billion in debt inherited when he took office, to leave the government finances in a surplus position. He also re-regulated aspects of the financial services industry in the late 1990s, which has resulted in the larger Australian banks being in a position to increase their market capitalisation during the current financial crisis.

If someone were to play as him, he would be a member of the Democratic Union.

Brown enters race for President

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown became the second candidate for the Socialist nomination for President of the World, today. Brown will be competing against another political heavyweight in Brazilian President, Lula da Silva. Brown served as a Member of Parliament since 1983 and served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007 when he became Prime Minister. He served has Prime Minister from 3 years before losing to Conservative David Cameron earlier this year. Brown is probably the most well known candidate so far in this election, but is marred by his party's downfall in the most recent British elections.

Brown will be starting out with a campaign war chest of $80 million.

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Why not give it a go? I don't think it would take too much of your time.

I've already got my fingers in a few pies, plus it looks extremely likely we'll be in an election campaign within the next couple of weeks (PM's widely tipped to be visiting the GG on Sunday morning for an August 28 election date). If so, I'm going to have virtually no spare time.

Also edited my earlier quote here, to finish the thought since that first sentence ended quite abruptly before.

Fidel Castro
Party: Communist
Other info: Prime Minister/President of Cuba 1959-2008

Ailing Castro enters race for President

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has entered the race to become President of the world. Castro, who served as Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President from 1976 to 2008 will be running for the Communist Party nomination. Castro resigned due to health reasons, but remains as the First Secretary of the Cuban Communist Party. His brother, Raul is currently President. If Castro became President of the World, it is likely his brother will do day to day operations, and he may do the campaigning too. Castro is 83. Castro is well known around the world, and is loved or reviled. It will be interesting to see Castro fight in his first multi-partisan election, if he wins the Communist nomination. He will surely be backed by Latin America's leftists who adore him.

Castro will be starting out with a campaign war chest of $100 million.

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Brown travels to South Asia visiting Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.  At each stop he speaks of his ability to lead Britain into an economic recovery, he also reuses the 2010 Labour campaign banner: "A Future Fair for All". 

After South Asia Brown travels to Japan and then China, both times speaking about the world economy and cooperation with all countries.

Thune starts a tour the goes through Hawaii ,Australia,  New Zealand, and The Philippines. Thune campaigns on his theme of "Conservatism for unsteady times'.

First Primary announced!

Candidates, the Socialist Party will be holding their first primary on July 22, electing all delegates in the East Asia region. This region includes China, Taiwan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau and Tibet.

Attached is the delegate map of the region

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Countries exceeding 1/194th (35 million) of the world's population have been divided in an appropriate fashion into a set of delegate provinces. (Canada and Australia will also be divided due to the large land mass of those countries)

Brown travels to South Korea and then across the Yellow Sea into China. During this time, a TV ad is released in all of the countries holding their primary on 22 July:

(Translated to the appropriate languages, of course)
"I'm Gordon Brown. I served as Prime Minister of Great Britian for three years, and Chancellor of the Exchequer for ten years before that. Through my economic plan, Britian was able to move out of the recession and start a recovery. I know that true global recovery can only be reached by a fair plan for all. That's why I stand for a future fair for all."

Ahmed Nazif
Democratic Union
Prime Minister of Egypt (2004-present ); Known for being modern and honest; Among other achievements, expanded internet access to Egyptians.

Lula travels to China where he gives his first major speech:

"I'm Lula. I was born into poverty, I received only a skills diploma in machinery and only a grade 4 level education, I sold trinkets and food on the streets to make money for my family, I struggled for the rights of workers and everyday folks while in trade unions in the context of a dictatorship which was dominated by the interests of the reactionary elite. I know what poverty is like, because I grew up in poverty. I know what fighting for values is like, because I fought for the rights of my colleagues in tough times and got sent to jail. I know what lacking quality healthcare is like, because I lost my first wife during her pregnancy. I fought for my country, for the progress and wealth of my nation.

When I became President of Brazil in 2002, the economy wasn't doing too well and most importantly poverty was a major issue and the everyday folks in Brazil hadn't seen the so-called worth of the elite's liberal policies. Now, in 2010, poverty and crime has fallen drastically in Brazil thanks to our government's social programs which have worked beyond anybody's wildest expectations. Brazil is now an aspiring world power and a country which is respected around the world. In the midst of the financial crisis, Brazil moved out of recession quicker than any other country in the world and we are now posting a tremendous 9% GDP growth rate for 2010. And this tremendous recovery, actually, beyond recovery, a tremendous boom, didn't come at the expense of our social programs or our people. Our work has proven to the world that a strong social welfare state of popular progress is NOT incompatible with a market economy of the twenty-first century.

I'm Lula, and I, unlike any other politician, know what poverty is like and what it is to live in shantytowns and that's why I'm fighting for a fairer and better future for all the people of the world. Thank you very much, thank you."

Bill Clinton
Liberal Party
Bill Clinton is a former president of the United States (1993-2001). Under his administration, the United States experienced four budget surpluses, a booming economy, and numerous domestic reforms.

Nazif and Clinton enter race for President

Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and former U.S. President Bill Clinton announced their intentions to run for President of the World, yesterday. Nazif is the first candidate to run for the conservative Democratic Union Party while Clinton is the first candidate to run for the Liberal Party.

Nazif is the first Arab candidate to declare his intentions. He has been Prime Minister of Egypt for the last six years. He is a member of the socialist National Democratic Party in Egpyh, but has chosen to run for the more conservative IDP.

Meanwhile Clinton, served as President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He respresents the U.S. Democratic Party, and is seen as a moderate liberal, and will be a good fit for his chosen party, the Liberals.

Clinton's war chest is $100,000,000 while Nazif's is $10,000,000

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Brown travels to central China and visits several farming towns making it clear that, through the global relief, farming communities will get tax relief and assistance.

Polls (with Brown)

Region	Castro	Brown	Clinton	Thune	Nazif	None
East Asia	39	21	19	4	1	16
Europe	10	27	39	10	8	6
Former Soviet Union	23	28	27	3	3	16
Middle East/Maghreb	10	14	25	10	40	1
North America	15	8	47	21	9	0
South American	28	6	39	19	8	0
South Asia	26	25	27	6	13	3
Southeast Asia/Oceania	28	20	23	7	4	18
Sub Saharan Africa	20	26	20	10	9	15
World	24	21	28	10	11	6

(with Lula)

Region	Castro	Lula	Clinton	Thune	Nazif	None
East Asia	40	16	23	4	1	16
Europe	9	17	41	11	9	13
Former Soviet Union	23	27	28	3	3	16
Middle East/Maghreb	10	13	26	10	40	1
North America	15	16	39	20	9	0
South American	18	36	24	15	7	0
South Asia	26	23	29	6	13	3
Southeast Asia/Oceania	29	18	24	7	5	18
Sub Saharan Africa	23	18	24	10	9	15
World	23	20	26	10	12	9

Thune announces a tour of Africa and South America. While there he hold rallies and tours the communities in Poverty. " If i am elected, never again will any citizen of the world live in Poverty".

Nazif announces a series of campaign stops in Europe; Italy, Germany, and Spain are where the bulk of the stops are, though he visits Portugal, Ukraine, and Russia as well. He touts his modernization of Egypt and his integrity. He also notes that he is the only non-Christian in the race, and can bring a fresh perspective to the world stage. "To those who think my Islamic faith may lead me to do radical things, I tell you that I liberated the press in my country and gave my people access to the internet."

Socialist Primary Poll numbers

Japan

Brown: 45%
Lula: 10%

North Korea
Brown: 14%
Lula: 4%

South Korea
Brown: 32%
Lula: 15%

Taiwan
Brown: 48%
Lula: 44%

Northern China
Brown: 56%
Lula: 18%

Central China
Brown: 55%
Lula: 16%

South China
Brown: 79%
Lula: 10%

West China
Brown: 30%
Lula: 20%

The good news for Lula is at least he leads in Macau :P

This poll was conducted by polling the membership of the Social Democratic Party of Japan. Democratic Labour Party of Korea, the New Progressive Party of Korea, Taiwan Farmers' Party, Third Society Party, Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, Civic Act-up, The Frontier, League of Social Democrats, Association for Democracy and Social Well-Being of Macau, as well as two new organizations created in China and North Korea. (Socialist Party - China, and Socialist Party - North Korea)

Mahmoud Abbas
Socialist Party
President of Palestinian National Authority (2005-present); Prime Minister of Palestinian National Authority (2003)

Brown takes a tour of Japan and then flies to North and South Korea for a week long "meet and greet".

Lula flies to central and southern China, visiting communities in poverty and areas where people are struggling for more rights. He stresses his record in cutting poverty in Brazil and winning better rights for workers and rural farmers. "Don't let them tell you it can't be done, don't let them tell you they'll fight for you; trust the team with the real proven record of cutting poverty from over 30% to less than 10%. That team is my team"

Mahmoud Abbas pays a visit to Ürümqi, where he delivers a message of minority rights.

Al Gore
Green Party
United States Congressman, 1977-1993
Vice President of the United States, 1993-2001
Nobel Peace Prize laureate, 2007

Joe Biden
Liberal Party
Senator from Delaware 1973-2009
Vice President of the United States 2009-

Hi guys, sorry for my absence, I was hoping to see some more interest. I guess I'll continue with this now. Stay tuned for updates.

Biden speaks on health care and gun control in Glasgow, London, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Moscow, Chicago, and Vancouver.

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
Centrist Democratic Party
Served as President of Argentina since 2007 and Senator before that.

Wen Jiabao
Communist Party
Premier of the People's Republic of China (2003-Present), Vice-Premier with agricultural, environmental, and financial portfolios (1998-2003)

Wen, unusually populist and charistmatic for a high-ranking Chinese official, is running for President of the World to apply the Hu-Wen administration's successes in China throughout the developing world. His platform highlights an international adaptation of China's "Scientific Development Concept" which calls for sustainable development, social welfare, increased democracy, and a 'person-centered' society. He also supports strong measures against corruption.

He highlights his successful management of China's extraordinary economic growth, but notes such advancement must occur hand-in-hand with egalitarian policies that ensure the world's poorest citizens aren't left behind.

In order to preemptly assuage fears that his Presidency would not have the non-Chinese world in mind, Wen has placed his campaign headquarters in Paris, France.

After inagurating his campaign with an internationally televised speech in his Paris headquarters, Wen meets residents throughout the city. He visits a factory, has a meal in a local bakery, and briefly meets with the national leadership of the various Communist and Marxist parties in France. Though he spends more time with the PCF due to its larger size, he entirely distances himself from the divisiveness of the French parties and argues to each party he meets with the ideological views they share with his campaign. He also meets personally with several Communist MPs as well as Christian Favier, the leader of the Val-de-Marne province immediately Southeast of Paris. Wen ends his day with an open-to-the-public townhall meeting hosted by the Parisian university system.

Not sure that the PCF et al. would particularly like the Chinese government...

I'm assuming there's been a bit of increased international cohesion due to whatever brought about this world government scenario in the first place.

Regardless, he's emphasizing his commitment to social and economic justice to these party leaders and, when questioned about Chinese governance, highlights the fact that the current government believes strongly in reform to a more democratic and egalitarian nation, and indeed such a policy of utmost importance, but the Chinese Politburo is ever-cautious and advances slowly but steadily on these fronts. He emphasizes that he is very much among the most reform-minded of Chinese officials, but notes that the upper echelons of the PRC government revolves around forming a rough concensus for the sake of stability in the huge nation. He privately points to his groomed successor Xi Jinping's practically open commitment to significant political reform, and highlights that he's long done all he could to push China in the right direction. He privately confindes in the officials that without the Chinese governmental tradition tying his hands, he could more directly and positively influence the world towards the views he shares with the PCF/etc.

In fact, that'll generally be his answer to anyone regarding problems people have with the Chinese government that he's personally unconnected with.

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner holds a rally in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina...

For years, this world has been plagued by corruption, hate, and destruction. Leaders of this nation have been searching for power, not peace. They've been destructing other nations, instead of building up their own. And they have put their own needs and wants over the people. An election is coming up for President of the World. Many candidates from all over the world have announced they are running, but why? Do they expect us to believe it's in the interest of the world, or are they just doing it for themselves?

Today, I stand here announcing that I will be running for President of the World. It's time for personal feelings to be cast aside for the sake of the people. This world needs a leader that will mend broken relationships and will work for all countries, not just their own. Friends, I am that leader. I look forward to meeting citizens from all over the world to discuss what needs to be done in the coming months and years. Thank you all!

- Christina Kirchner