The Campaign Trail: Post Your Maps!

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Went from active -> inactive for me.

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Bryan(D-NE)/Boies (D-IA) - 50.7% / 234 EV
McKinley(R-OH) /Hobart (R-NJ) - 48.3% - 213 EV

Indiana was the tipping point: 560 vote margin (0.09%)

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

Impossible Difficulty: Obama/Biden Squeaks Through

Obama/Biden:  270    63,508,398    49.2%
Romney/Ryan: 268    64,313,797    49.8%


5 Closest States

Ohio
D: 2,860,331 - 49.82%
R: 2,836,669 - 49.41%

Wisconsin
D: 1,519,350 - 49.26%
R: 1,536,933 - 49.83%

Colorado
D: 1,319,954 - 49.52%
R: 1,298,842 - 48.73%

Pennsylvania
D: 3,011,489 - 50.00%
R: 2,963,231 - 49.19%

Nevada
D: 492,877 - 50.09%
R: 474,418 - 48.21%

Impossible is an apt description for that difficulty level. Took me over a dozen tries. Came close several times once I got the hang of what Obama should generally be saying, usually losing a state that should be lean D while picking up a swing state (e.g. lose PA but win VA). I know it's supposed to be favorable to the other guy but some states tilt absurdly close to Romney: New York and Delaware were 5 point margins while New Jersey was 12 points; Iowa is virtually unwinnable.

My advice for Obama Impossible attempts:
- Stay with Biden. Picking Clinton seems to start you off in a worse position.
- Going full moderate hero will get you close but not over the line. Staking out some liberal positions (gay marriage, wealthy tax cuts, Arizona immigration law) are necessary to prevent some tilt-D states from hemorrhaging voters.
- Focus the fast majority of your state visits on one swing state. I picked Ohio which worked out, visiting PA and CO once each to shore up Dem support.

Now to do it with Romney...

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

1968: Liberalism Triumphs

Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN)/Senator Fred Harris (D-OK): 449 EVs, 36,417,501 PVs (49.7%)
Former Vice President Richard Nixon (R-CA)/Governor Spiro Agnew(R-MD): 49 EVs, 27,579,439 PVs (37.6%)
Governor George Wallace (AIP-AL)/General Curtis LeMay (AIP-OH): 39 EVs, 9,256,541 PVs (12.6%)

Closest State (Arkansas)
Humphrey: 229,390 (36.22%) +38
Wallace: 229,352 (36.22%)
Nixon: 174,508 (27.56%)

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

The 2012 produces some odd scenarios in blowouts: Obama wins Tennessee before Georgia, Arizona, South Carolina, or the Dakotas. Romney wins in New York/Washington before Connecticut, Oregon, or New Jersey. 

[Negusa Nagast 🚀]

The 2000 election seems to be quite difficult, even on lower difficulties.