2008 Election TL (Gameplay Thread)

[ej2mm15]

February 2008 Week 2
 
Upcoming Primaries

February Week 3- Wisconsin, Hawaii
February Week 4- No Primary
March Week 1- Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont
March Week 2- Mississippii
March 3- No Primary

Republicans
Romney 52.0%
Huckabee 43.0%

Blue-Romney, Light Blue-Huckabee

Ohio
Huckabee 48.6%
Romey 46.4%

Rhode Island
Romney 68.9%
Huckabee 26.1%

Wisconsin
Huckabee 47.6%
Romney 47.4%

General Election Matchups

Romney 47% (The bush endorsement really hurt you, considering he has a 70% disapproval at the time)
Warner 41%

Huckabee 45%
Warner 39%
 

[tmthforu94]

Romney makes a stop in Appleton, Wisconsin...

In 2002, the Salt Lake City Olympics were in ruins. I stepped in , turned things around, and we had one of the greatest sporting events in American history. Soon after I ran a campaign in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans over 2-1, and prevailed. My friends, I know how to run a strong campaign, and I have in the past. I also know that in order to have a strong nation, we must have a strong economy. As President Calvin Coolidge once said, "The business of America is business". Let's get America back on track, both economically and morally. Thank you, and God Bless!
- Mitt Romney

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a rally in Madison, Wisconsin.

"Here's someone who claims to be the conservative in the race, but he doesn't profess conservative values. He certainly didn't as governor of Massachusetts when it came to the unborn or the second amendment. I know Romney will say 'oh, but I'm better on economics, and that's what matters.' He certainly prefers to disregard social issues in favor of talking about economics. But is he conservative there either? Well, I don't think RomneyCare, which forced Massachusetts citizens to buy health insurance, is a conservative position on the economy. He's also portraying himself as anti-tax, but raised fees just in order to bypass the tax label."

[tmthforu94]

Mitt Romney makes a stop in Superior, Wisconsin, where he jointly goes after Governor Warner and Governor Huckabee...

My friends, America needs a strong leader now more than ever. This nation cannot afford the liberal policies that would be implemented under a Warner administration. This party needs a strong nominee who will be able to defeat Warner. I have continuously been closer to 50% than my opponent, Governor Huckabee. I am confident we can win this election. But we must have a strong nominee in order to do so, and I am that candidate. Thank you, and God Bless!
- Mitt Romney

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds events in Green Bay, Madison, Janesville, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin with Paul Ryan and Jim Sensenbrenner. He then holds a town hall style meeting in Appleton focusing on social issues.

[tmthforu94]

Mitt Romney holds a rally just a few minutes south of Madison...

It's funny that Governor Huckabee is throwing baseless attacks my way. The fact is, he, not I, is the candidate who raised taxes 87 times as Governor, supported a college education to illegal immigrants, and pardoned more people than any other Governor in America. We need a leader right now who is soft on crime, not one who will let criminals run our streets! Madison, and America, deserve better than that.
- Mitt Romney


Jean Schmidt and John Boehner hold a joint rally for Romney in Cincinatti...

It's funny that Huckabee claims to be the conservative in the race. A real conservative wouldn't let criminals out on the streets. A real conservative wouldn't endanger our children's lives with sexual predators on the street. A real conservative would force criminals to pay their time, and that's exactly what Mitt Romney has done as Governor and will do as President!
- John Boehner

[tmthforu94]

Sean Hannity and Mark Levin hold a Freedom Rally in Madison, Wisconsin on behalf of Governor Romney. The same day, Ross Perot holds a town-hall debate for Romney.

Social issues are important, don't get me wrong. But the fact that Governor Huckabee has focused his entire campaign on them isn't encouraging to the middle class. We need a President who will fight for the middle and lower class, not one who will ignore them. We need a President who will appreciate and embrace the private sector, not shun them. We need Mitt Romney as our President, not Mike Huckabee!
- Ross Perot

[tmthforu94]

Mitt Romney begins running an ad in Ohio, Wisconsin, Texas, and Rhode Island, similar to an ad he ran earlier in the primary season...

Romney: America is in trying times, with staggering unemployment numbers, higher taxes, and less and less families being able to send their children to college. My friends, decline can happen quickly, even to a great nation, and it's a sobering thought. In such a short time, we have watched how in a matter of months our debt can increase by 4 trillion. Liberty is the right to be free, in our conscience, in our mind, free in our decisions making. We have the pursuit of happiness. This was a radical concept: what I produce belongs to me, not the king, and not the government. These are the ideals that animated the founding fathers, and these are the same ideas that will be implemented under a Romney administration. However, I will be a sympathetic leader, and I realize that their our times when the government must intervene, for the sake of prosperity and well being. And when those times come, we will be ready. I ask for your vote, and if I am honored to serve as your President, I will do my best. I'm Mitt Romney, and I approve this message.

[tmthforu94]

Today, Wisconsin House and Senate Minority Leader's Jeff Fitzgerald and Scott Fitzgerald endorse Mitt Romney for President, as does former Gubernatorial candidate Mark Green.

The fact is, we need a President who will fight for us, and will improve this nation's economy as well as morality. Mitt Romney is the only candidate who can do both. Huckabee continues to campaign almost entirely on social issues, but it is crucial our nominee is well-rounded, and Huckabee has proved in his speeches that he is not. That is why I'm endorsing a much better alternative, Mitt Romney.
- Jeff Fitzgerald

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a town hall meeting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, from which this is an excerpt:

Audience: Governor, your opponent is accusing you of throwing baseless attacks his way in response to your recent Madison rally. What do you have to say?
Huckabee: I wouldn't call my attacks baseless. They're based on words and actions from Mitt Romney's governorship and outside his governorship. I said that Romney didn't profess conservatism when it came to the issue of the unborn, for example. I stand by that comment.
Audience: Please elaborate.
Huckabee: Well, I've made a great deal out of this quote from Romney's gubernatorial campaign: 'On a personal basis, I don't favor abortion. However, as governor of the commonwealth, I will protect the right of a woman to choose under the law of the country and the laws of the commonwealth.'. Now, of course, he claims to be pro-life. I'd like to think he genuinely converted, but his changes on the issue go further than that. He ran as a pro-choicer for senate in 1994, but in 2001 he wrote to the Salt Lake City Tribune that he did 'not wish to be labeled pro-choice.' So, he was pro-choice in 1994, changed in 2001, again in 2002 and once again after that.
Audience: Ross Perot has just said that social issues are in fact important, but he doesn't like the fact that you've focused your entire campaign on them.
Huckabee: That's not true at all. It's true that I've emphasized social issues very much, but I have also discussed economics, both in my last Madison event and now. For example, I've criticized Governor Romney over health care, and if that's not an economic issue, I don't know what is. And, Romney's supporters are proving my point from the Madison rally; they're saying exactly what I predicted.
Audience: What's that?
Huckabee: I was predicting that the Romney campaign would be saying "oh, but we're better on economics, and that's more important." That's precisely what's happening, but I dispute the claim that Romney is better on economics as well. So, contrary to what Romney supporters are saying, I'm not disregarding economics. Romney is continuing to disregard social issues, however.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee releases a new ad in Wisconsin criticizing Romney's record on social issues. He also holds a new forum on economics in Milwaukee.

[tmthforu94]

Governor Romney holds an interview on a local Wisconsin station...

Reporter: Governor, what do you have to say about the recent comments made by Governor Huckabee in Kenosha at a town-hall meeting?
Romney: Well, while Huckabee has mentioned economics a couple times, all he has been able to come up with is attacks on my campaign. The fact is, from his campaigning, he has offered very few economic solutions for America. Instead, he continues to attack my campaign on economics without offering any solutions himself. We need to be the party of solutions, not the party of no.
Reporter: Governor, you've stated it before, but what are the chief principles to your economic vision for America?
Romney: First off, I hope to completely eliminate the property tax as well as explore establishing a flat tax. I hope to continue the Bush tax cuts as well. We should be rewarding companies who make new hires, not increasing their tax burden. I also believe employers of small businesses shouldn't be required to provide health insurance to their employees.
Reporter: Thank you, Governor.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee is endorsed by the following representatives from Ohio and Texas:

Mike Turner
Bob Latta
Pat Tiberi
Sam Johnson
Jeb Hensarling
John Culberson
Mike Conaway
Michael Burgess
John Carter
Pete Sessions

Turner: "I think Mike Huckabee offers true conservative solutions for America. I trust him to govern as a conservative, more of a conservative than either of the candidates still in the race. I hope Ohioans vote for him on March 4. Thank you, and God bless."

Also, Senators Kay Hutchison and John Cornyn tour the state of Texas campaigning for Huckabee.

[tmthforu94]

Democratic Congressman Chet Edwards holds a rally in Texas on behalf of Romney...

I'm proud to cross the aisle and endorse someone with the leadership and integrity of Mitt Romney. I'm tired of my own party slacking off and not campaigning for this, and I fear for this nation under some of the socialist tax policies that would be implemented under a Warner or Huckabee administration. The sun will rise from Massachusetts in Texas on election day!
- Chet Edwards

[tmthforu94]

Mitt Romney makes multiple stops in Wisconsin with Minority leader Scott Fitzgerald.

Friends, I know we can win this race! We are constantly getting closer and closer to the nomination, which is an exciting thing. Wisconsin, I ask for your vote. Let's make America greater than ever before!
- Mitt Romney

[ej2mm15]

Wisconsin
Romney 50.9% 20
Huckabee 49.1% 20

Hawaii
Romney 74.6% 29
Huckabee 25.4% 0

Romney Red; Huckabee Blue

Delegate Count
Romney 1052
Huckabee 603
Tancredo 0

[tmthforu94]

My friends, we now need around 100 delegates left before we clinch the nomination. Even sub-par performances in all remaining states will guarantee us the nomination! Tonight, I declare victory for conservatism! Americans have reason for hope again, because this this campaign is just getting started with excitement. We also won a huge victory in Hawaii tonight! Tonight, I call on Governor Huckabee to withdraw from this race. I have great admiration and respect for the man, despite the negative campaign we both have ran recently. But now is the time for this party to unity, and he must step aside.
- Mitt Romney

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee holds a press conference in Madison. In it, he agrees that Romney has won the popular vote in Wisconsin but does not concede the race for the Republican nomination. Instead, he maintains his previous position and will stay in the race unless Mitt Romney reaches 1,191 delegates.

He then immediately holds a set of rallies in Ohio and Texas.

[tmthforu94]

Jean Schmidt comments on Huckabee's stay in the race at a station in Cincinnati...


It's really disappointing. I always thought Mike Huckabee was a good man who had the party's best interest at heart. Quite frankly, I no longer think that. Romney has a huge delegate lead, popular vote lead, and is about 100 delegates away from clinching the nomination. Huckabee has shown he has absolutely no integrity by staying in this race, and this has ruined any chances of him ever getting my support if he ever decided to run again. It's simply embarrassing for the party. I feel sorry for his supporters, as they're supporting such a pathetic candidate who can't even admit defeat.
- Jean Schmidt

At a rally up in Dayton, Ohio, Mitt Romney makes the following comment...

We asked Governor Huckabee to drop out of this race because it's time for this party to come together. Unfortunately, the Governor does not take defeat well and has chosen a route that will continue to divide the party. We'll let the people decide here in Ohio, and around the nation, on March 4th, whether or not Huckabee deserves to stay in this race. I look forward to clinching the nomination on March 4th. Thank you all, and God Bless!
- Mitt Romney

[feeblepizza]

Tom Tancredo says the following in a CNN interview:

"I think that Vice-President Cheney, Governor Romney, Congresswoman Schmidt, and other party regulars should tone it down when it comes to their rhetoric about Huck dropping out. I think he's a fine man and I truly do regret calling him a jerk (an apology which I hope he will accept). I don't think, however, that he should drop out. He's going to lose in a massive landslide anyway come March 4th, where Mitt will likely sweep all four states. There's no use fussing because the race will be over very, very, very soon indeed."

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee is interviewed by a local Ohio television station.

Reporter: Governor, you have your opponent and his supporters continuing their requests that you drop out. You have consistently declined to do so. Why?
Huckabee: I, frankly, think that the race isn't over yet, and that's why Romney hasn't clinched the nomination yet. I know that he's calling on me to drop out for the sake of party unity because he's pretty much won already and all. However, I think that my opponent has it wrong.
Reporter: Why?
Huckabee: Well, I've already stated that I don't think that Romney has won yet, which is part of the reason. As far as party unity is concerned, I think he's incorrect there too.
Reporter: Why is that?
Huckabee: Well, I realise that my opponent is trying to portray me in a negative light here just as he's been trying to do elsewhere. He's saying I'm trying to split the party, trying to help Warner win, etc. I don't think any of that is correct. It's true that I'm still in the race because the race isn't yet over, and because I think we still have a chance, even if a small one. However, I truly believe that I am also doing what's best for the party, and even, for Mitt Romney himself.
Reporter: How is having another Romney opponent in the race a good thing for him?
Huckabee: I know, it may seem counterintuitive. However, I'll reiterate what I said the last time people asked me to withdraw.
Reporter: What was that?
Huckabee: I said "Being a businessman with private sector experience and all, Mitt Romney ought to know that competition brings excellence, and the lack thereof brings mediocrity. ... If we're really serious about taking it all the way to November, we better have a candidate who's truly battle-tested. So I think it's all nonsense, how I ought to step down to make things easier for my opponent. By staying in the race, I'm giving the Republican party a true choice between either of 2 candidates. Choice, and competition, those are things that Romney ought to encourage, not discourage."
Reporter: I see. So you're staying because you think you're helping everyone?
Huckabee: Absolutely. Romney's belief is that I'm hurting everyone, himself, the party, even myself, by staying in the race. I sincerely doubt that. I know he and his supporters will still disagree with me, but I don't think they're right.
Reporter: You actually have a Romney supporter distancing himself from these requests for you to drop out, and that's Tom Tancredo, himself a former candidate in the race. He once was himself asking you to leave, but now he has changed his position. What's more, he's apologised for calling you a jerk during a previous campaign event. Do you accept that apology?
Huckabee: Oh, I certainly do.

[tmthforu94]

Romney responds at a rally in Ohio...

Like I've said before, I'm accepting the fact that Huckabee has decided to further divide the party. I'm confident that I will clinch the nomination within the next few days. It's just sad that Governor Huckabee is risking losing his integrity, and people are being to question whether or not he has the party's best interests at heart. Damaging our presumptive nominee in February and March will not help us one bit.

Towards the future, I'm going to continue my message of hope and change. We have the winning campaign, and millions of Americans are getting on board. I look forward to facing Governor Warner in the fall.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee is newly endorsed by 6 Texas representatives:

Louie Gohmert
Ted Poe
Ralph Hall
Randy Neugebauer
Lamar Smith
Kenny Marchant

Marchant: "I hope Texans vote for Mike Huckabee on March 4. I think he'd make a great President, and I'm looking forward to voting for him in the primary. Thank you and God bless."

[RIP Robert H Bork]

Mike Huckabee announces a tour of Ohio, where he will be campaigning with Reps. Chabot, Turner, Latta, and Tiberi. He will also hold town hall meetings in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo and Dayton, where he will address the economic concerns of Buckeye State voters.

Also, he makes a set of campaign stops in Texas, visiting Dallas, Wichita Falls, Houston and San Antonio with Senators Hutchison and Cornyn.

[tmthforu94]

Mitt Romney announces a tour of Ohio, where he will be campaigning with Congressmember's Jean Schmidt, Michele Bachmann, Rob Portman, and John Boehner. They will be holding rallies in Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Dayton, and Cincinatti, where Romney plans on addressing key concerns to Ohio voters, such as social security, medicare, and the economy.

After that, Romney will make several stops in Texas with Rep. Chet Edwards, Kay Granger, and Joe Barton in Houston, Austin, Haskell, and Wichita Falls, where he will heavily emphasize social issues as well as his experience in the private sector.