Second Round of the Presidential Forever Championships

[Erc]

With the seeding process over, we can now proceed onto the actual meat of the game, where fortunes and candidacies will be made or broken.

The 30 prospective candidates—15 Republican and 15 Democrat—have been split up into five separate groups, each with 3 Republicans and 3 Democrats.  Each candidate will play each of the three opposing candidates twice, and the top two candidates from each party will advance.  Thus, after the end of this round, we will be down to 20 candidates.

The Five Groups:

Group A
   Gov. Michael R. Lane (R-CA) [1]   [Wildcard]
   Sen. William Goldwater (R-FL) [15]   [Dubya]
   Mr. Keystone Phil (R-PA) [6]      [Keystone Phil]
   Gov. Hugh Bartlett (D-OR) [1]   [hughento]
   Souped-Up Punching-Bag (D-DC) [15]   [our fake candidate]
   Gov. Cosmo Kramer (D-AR) [10]   [Cosmo Kramer]

Group B
   Sen. Lucas Longley (D-WA) [2]   [Gabu]
   Mr. Dan Porceddu (D-SC) [14]   [Ebowed]
   Sen. Alex Knobel (D-MD) [9]   [Akno21]
   President Paul Brunsel (R-IA) [2]   [PBrunsel]
   Mr. Jake Nichols (R-PA) [14]      [Jake]
   Mr. Bono Vox (R-NH) [7]      [Bono]   

Group C
   Sen. Chris Soult (R-PA) [3]      [supersoulty]
   Gov. Mark Ard (R-WI) [13]      [Cheesewhiz]
   Sen. Colin Wixted (R-AK) [8]   [Colin Wixted]
   Sen. John Anderson (D-LA) [3]   [Sam Spade]
   Señor Max Power (D-PA) [13]   [Max Power]
   Gov. Chris Ilikeverin (D-IN) [8]   [Ilikeverin]
   
Group D
   Mr. Alcon San Croix (D-WA) [4]   [Alcon]
   Gov. Eric Everett (D-ID) [12]      [Immy]
   Nicholas Holler (D-PA) [7]      [nini2287]
   Mr. Ernest Bunbury (R-SC) [4]   [Ernest]
   Gov. Andrew Berger (R-NY) [12]   [AndrewBerger]
   Mr. Josh Craddock (R-NC) [9]   [josh22]

Group E
   Rep. P.G. Talbott (R-NY) [5]      [Erc]
   Mayor Daniel Smith (R-WY) [11]   [DanielX]
   Sen. Scott Pettit (R-DC) [10]      [MHS2002]
   Mr. True Democrat (D-PA) [5]   [True Democrat]
   Sen. Peter Blerpiez (D-MA) [11]   [Blerpiez]
   Gov. Gustaf Lundgren (D-MN) [6]   [Gustaf]
   

The First Day of Games (all chosen at random)

Group A:
   Wildcard v. Cosmo Kramer
   Dubya v. Souped Up Punching Bag [or Ben Meyers]
   Keystone Phil v. hughento  (Completely Random...)

Group B:
   PBrunsel v. Akno21
   Jake v. Ebowed
   Bono v. Gabu

Group C:
   Supersoulty v. Sam Spade
   Cheesewhiz v. Ilikeverin [I tell ya, it's Completely Random…]
   Colin Wixted v. Max Power

Group D:
   Ernest v. nini2287
   AndrewBerger v. Alcon
   Josh22 v. Immy

Group E:
   Erc v. Blerpiez
   DanielX v. True Democrat
   MHS2002 v. Gustaf

The first of the two games will be played without dynamism, the other with.  Regionalism will be used in both cases.

[Gabu]

   President Paul Brunsel (D-IA) [2]   [PBrunsel]

Er, I think that this mistake might make PBrunsel a little mad.

[Erc]

   President Paul Brunsel (D-IA) [2]   [PBrunsel]

Er, I think that this mistake might make PBrunsel a little mad.

PBrunsel not a Democrat?  What, next you'll be telling me Hoover wasn't a Democrat....

[Erc]

Group A:

Game 1:

Cosmo Kramer (D) v. Wildcard (R)

Wildcard, who managed a whopping 80% of the vote in the opening round, was heavily favored to win this match.  A popular governor from the country's most populous state, the little-known vehement populism of Gov. Cosmo Kramer was not expected to make much of a dent in Gov. Lane's expected lead.  However, much like another famous Governor of Arkansas, Kramer kept fighting on...and managed a truly impressive victory, clinching Lane's own home state and the election.

Cosmo Kramer (D-AR): 63,540,347, 51%, 303 EV
Michael R. Lane (R-CA): 59,256,612, 47%, 235 EV



(Due to a computer crash on my end I didn't get the percentages on this one).

Game 2:
The Dubya-Bag game has been postponed due to rain.


Game 3:

One of the most highly anticipated races of this round, the Keystone Phil - hughento race was a close one.  Bartlett started out with a narrow lead in the first week, but this soon evaporated, leaving the two neck and neck through the debates and up to election day.  It wasn't till 10pm that we had any idea who would probably win...and the loser's fate was not sealed until well after midnight.

By the most excruciating of margins, Gov. Bartlett was elected President with narrow majorities in both the popular and electoral votes.

Hugh Bartlett (D-OR): 50%, 62,361,924, 272 EV
Keystone Phil (R-PA): 48%, 60,533,216, 266 EV



The night started off well for Phil...he won Kentucky (which was considered a swing state by everyone involved) by a much wider margin than expected, and held onto his home state of Pennsylvania.  However, it was two excruciatingly close defeats that put a dent in his campaign: 

West Virginia, where Bartlett had had a lead, but Phil was gaining...he lost by only 3500 votes.

Mississippi, a tossup which Bartlett won by 1.8%.


Despite a surprise win in Iowa (by 6000 votes), there was no way Phil could make up for these two losses without winning California--always a long shot, as it proved when the returns came in--Phil lost by 15%.

A hard-fought battle by both sides, and one that could have easily gone either way.

[ilikeverin]

Excellent I can't wait until Midwest Executive Branch Grudgematch

Cheesewhiz shall pay for repealing the Ilikeverin Pronunciation Act

[Erc]

Group B:

Game 1:

PBrunsel (R) v. Akno21 (D)

PBrunsel began with a commanding lead, and it looked as if he would smash Akno21 Dukakis-style (if not worse)...but then his lead started slipping...well, the map speaks for itself.

Alex Knobel (D-MD): 50%, 63,061,330, 281 EV
Paul Brunsel (R-IA): 48%, 60,076,749, 257 EV



I think I may have tipped the balance too much towards the Democrats...


Game 2:

Jake v. Ebowed

The battle of the bottom seeds...these two players did the worst of all the players against Punching Bag, Ebowed even losing California.

Unfortunately, this game turned out a lot like the rest...Jake on his way to a 45-state victory...and then he slips, and falls, and loses the election.  *sigh*   Well, he did lose the debates, and got hit with a couple scandals, but this is beginning to seem repetitive...

My congratulations to Jake on winning the popular vote solidly, however (despite losing your home state)--and on winning Vermont (!), and coming very close in Rhode Island and California.

Jake Nichols (R-PA): 50%, 62,469,779, 254 EV
Dan Porceddu (D-SC): 48%, 60,745,971, 284 EV




Game 3:

Bono v. Gabu

Gabu, the second seed for the Democrats, was favored to win this race.  Started off in the lead...and kept it.

Lucas Longley (D-WA): 54%, 67,514,087, 375 EV
Bono Vox (R-NH): 44%, 55,937,375, 163 EV

My condolences to Bono on losing his home state by 24%...but my congratulations on coming within 1.3% of winning Maryland, and winning the state of Hawaii.

[Colin]

I think you made the Democrats alittle too strong. Now their defeating everybody.

[Erc]

Group C:  Can the Republicans win a game?

Game 1:

Supersoulty [3] v. Sam Spade [3]

Yet Another Pennsylvania Republican steps up to the plate...but can he do better than the ones which have come before him?

As the campaign began, Soult had an enormous lead...7 points in the popular vote, 424 EV in the bag...Anderson was losing his own state by 12 points, and could only really count on Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and D.C. to support him.  But, as always, he began to push back...

But, this time, it wasn't enough.  Although it looked as if he'd lose both New York and California at one point, Anderson pushed back, but was still down by over four points come November 2nd.  Still a solid performance for a candidate starting off in a horrible position...and one who lost all three debates.

Chris Soult (R-PA): 51%, 63,632,765, 294 EV
John Anderson (D-LA): 48%, 60,108,791, 244 EV



My congratulations to Sam Spade on his surprise last-minute victory in Ohio, and on his victory in Pennsylvania--neither candidate won their home state this time around.

And my heartiest congratulations to supersoulty for finally winning one for the Republicans.


Game 2:

The Highly Anticipated:
Cheesewhiz (R-WI) [13] v. Ilikeverin (D-IN) [8]

Cheesewhiz started down by two points in the popular vote, but this continued to be a competitive race throughout the season, with no clear favorite.

Ard won all three debates, but Ilikeverin remained very competitive, and managed to retain the slimmest of leads going into election day.

As the day dawned on November 2, all eyes were on the Sooner State....

Which, somehow, went for the Democrats.

Chris Ilikeverin (D-IN):  63,103,914, 50%, 275 EV
Mark Ard (R-WI): 60,730,438, 48%, 263 EV



Both candidates lost their homestates.

Game 3:

Colin Wixted (R-FL) [8] v. Max Power (D-PA) [13]

Can the Republicans manage to beat the 97-year old?


At the beginning, Wixted had a decisive lead...but then it seemed that it might go the way of all those other races, yet again.  However, by election day, it had evened out again, and although Reese probably still had the slightest of advantages, Wixted had the momentum.


But it wasn't enough.  Despite a narrow popular vote victory and a resounding win in Ohio, Reese just barely squeaked by with New Mexico and the election.

Colin Wixted (R-AK):  62,466,938, 50%, 266 EV
Max Power (D-PA):  61,005,985, 49%, 272 EV



Blair House Happy Meals are now on sale.


Democrats: 7
Republicans: 1

[ilikeverin]

As the day dawned on November 2, all eyes were on the Sooner State....

Which, somehow, went for the Democrats.

Chris Ilikeverin (D-IN):  63,103,914, 50%, 275 EV
Mark Ard (R-WI): 60,730,438, 48%, 263 EV

I love Oklahoma

[Erc]

Group D:

Game 1:
Ernest [4] v. nini2287 [7]


Begins off dead even, Holler gains the lead, but then gets hit with a large scandal going into the final stretch.  Will the scandal be enough to propel the Republicans into the White House?  Knowing our luck, probably not.

Nicholas Holler (D-PA): 63,117,090, 50%, 277 EV
Ernest Bunbury (R-SC): 60,144,357, 48%, 261 EV



Game 2:

AndrewBerger [12] v. Alcon [4]

As expected, San Croix always had the lead...although it continued to be extremely competitive until the final week, when Alcon just pulled away, humiliating Berger in the final debate.

Alcon San Croix (D-WA): 52%, 64,714,105, 308 EV
Andrew Berger (R-WA): 47%, 58,651,231, 230 EV



Game 3:

josh22 [9] v. Immy [12]

Josh Craddock started off with a slight lead...and expanded it...but, then, around mid-October, Everett started coming back, and it was dead even for the last three weeks.

The key states:  West Virginia and New Mexico.

Craddock needed both.

He won New Mexico.

He lost West Virginia by 13,000 votes.

Eric Everett (D-ID): 49%, 62,034,577, 272 EV
Josh Craddock (R-NC): 49%, 61,233,502, 266 EV

[Colin]

You definitely made the Democrats too strong. Nobody's able to win.

[Erc]

Yeah...

The annoying thing is, a lot of these losses are excruciatingly close... 272-266...


I'll tweak the settings again before the second set of games.

[Akno21]

You definitely made the Democrats too strong. Nobody's able to win.

We're rarely breaking 300 EV's though, it's extremly close.

[Erc]

Group E:

Game 1:

Erc [5] v. Blerpiez [11]

I could just never get any momentum.

Peter Blerpiez (D-MA): 63,152,034, 50%, 300 EV
P.G. Talbott (R-NY): 60,153,452, 48%, 238 EV

[The EV count of my own election prediction, reversed, ironically enough]



Damn you, Florida.  Not that it would have made a difference, but still.


Game 2:

DanielX [11] v. True Democrat [5]

True Democrat was favored in this race, and won...but only by a weird fluke...he won Texas.

True Democrat (D-PA): 52%, 65,330,601, 304 EV
Daniel Smith (R-WY): 46%, 58,173,935, 234 EV



Game 3:

MHS2002 [10] v. Gustaf [6]

Pettit started off with a considerable lead over Lundgren.  Lundgren began to gain back some ground electorally, but was still down by 4 points to Pettit after the second debate (Lundgren won the first, Pettit the second and third).
Going into election day, Lundgren had taken the popular vote lead, but was at a severe disadvantage electorally.

Somehow, Lundgren made it up though, and won the election with extremely close victories in Virginia, Mississippi, and Massachusetts, although Pettit won the popular vote by a small margin--the reverse of what the pundits had been predicting.

Scott Pettit (R-DC): 61,756,082, 49%, 260 EV
Gustaf Lundgren (D-MN):  61,414,495, 49%, 278 EV

[Gabu]

Maybe you should just swap party establishments each time someone plays against someone else.

[TheWildCard]

I'll just say one of the biggest problems with PF is that it has a set of strategic states... If I was playing I would have been campaigning heavily in CA and might have had a better chance at this.

[Erc]

Total Votes:

Democrats:
881,565,251 (51.1%)

Republicans:
845,215,431 (48.9%)


This 2.1% imbalance is a problem that needs to be corrected.

Note that this means that a good number of the really close Democratic victories should actually have been won by Republicans (obviously).

We know that 5-5 results in a Republican bias, but 5-4 results in a Democratic bias...

Lemme test out 4-4 on a couple, and see if that works at all.

[Erc]

Dubya [15] v. Ben Myers [15] (after rain delay)

Rob Byers (D-TX): 63,090,194, 50%, 273 EV
William Goldwater (R-FL):  60,483,644, 48%, 265 EV



Despite the impressive coup of California, Goldwater lost Byers' home state of Texas, and, more importantly, Arizona and New Mexico, costing him the election.

[Gustaf]

Hehe, I like my map...weird though, sinec I usually win Washington and Oregon convincingly when I play.

[jokerman]

I did nearly second best among Democrats -not bad.

[CheeseWhiz]

As the day dawned on November 2, all eyes were on the Sooner State....

Which, somehow, went for the Democrats.

Chris Ilikeverin (D-IN):  63,103,914, 50%, 275 EV
Mark Ard (R-WI): 60,730,438, 48%, 263 EV

I love Oklahoma

I don't   No, really, you’re one of the best Democrats to lose against and I’m content just on the fact that it was close.  Anyway, does this mean I’m out of the game?

[Bono]

Game 3:

Bono v. Gabu

Gabu, the second seed for the Democrats, was favored to win this race.  Started off in the lead...and kept it.

Lucas Longley (D-WA): 54%, 67,514,087, 375 EV
Bono Vox (R-NH): 44%, 55,937,375, 163 EV

My condolences to Bono on losing his home state by 24%...but my congratulations on coming within 1.3% of winning Maryland, and winning the state of Hawaii.

My "home state" is south carolina, and how come I won west virginia but lost florida and kansas?

[Erc]

Game 3:

Bono v. Gabu

Gabu, the second seed for the Democrats, was favored to win this race.  Started off in the lead...and kept it.

Lucas Longley (D-WA): 54%, 67,514,087, 375 EV
Bono Vox (R-NH): 44%, 55,937,375, 163 EV

My condolences to Bono on losing his home state by 24%...but my congratulations on coming within 1.3% of winning Maryland, and winning the state of Hawaii.

My "home state" is south carolina, and how come I won west virginia but lost florida and kansas?

I've got Bono Vox down as being from NH...


Anyway, more results (hopefully more balanced) should be coming later tonight into tomorrow.


Nobody's eliminated yet...

[TheWildCard]

I'll just say one of the biggest problems with PF is that it has a set of strategic states... If I was playing I would have been campaigning heavily in CA and might have had a better chance at this.

Shoot also forgot to congradulate Kramer on his win.

[Max Power]

Game 3:
Colin Wixted (R-FL) [8] v. Max Power (D-PA) [13]

Can the Republicans manage to beat the 97-year old?


At the beginning, Wixted had a decisive lead...but then it seemed that it might go the way of all those other races, yet again.  However, by election day, it had evened out again, and although Reese probably still had the slightest of advantages, Wixted had the momentum.


But it wasn't enough.  Despite a narrow popular vote victory and a resounding win in Ohio, Reese just barely squeaked by with New Mexico and the election.

Colin Wixted (R-AK):  62,466,938, 50%, 266 EV
Max Power (D-PA):  61,005,985, 49%, 272 EV



Blair House Happy Meals are now on sale.


Democrats: 7
Republicans: 1

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!
Just so you know, I'm not really 97.