1976
| 1976 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Creator(s) | Dan Bryan |
| Genre | Historical |
| Candidates | Jimmy Carter Gerald Ford Eugene McCarthy Roger MacBride |
| Historical result | Carter: 297 Ford: 240 |
1976 is an official scenario created by Dan Bryan. The scenario is based on the 1960 United States presidential election.
Gameplay and features[edit | edit source]
1976 is a standard scenario. It also includes an RNG based questions focused on the candidate's debate performance. Although Jimmy Carter starts with a huge lead, this can drastically change after his infamous Playboy interview is released. While Carter must negate the effects of this interview, Ford can use it to capitalize on it to level the playing field.
Issues surrounding the election include honesty in government, the economy, social issues, federal spending, national defense.
Non-playable candidates in this scenario include Eugene McCarthy and Roger MacBride.
Jimmy Carter[edit | edit source]
In an era where trust in the government is at an all-time low, Jimmy Carter's strong position. To win, he must hit hard on the government's lack of transparency and dishonesty while flexing his outsider credentials. He also must avoid taking vague stances on policy.
Being the favorite to win, Carter leads in every state in the country save for Utah.
Running Mates[edit | edit source]
Carter's running mates include Walter Moldale, Frank Church, John Glenn, and Scoop Jackson.
- Walter Moldale: Moldale is a protégé of Hubert H. Humphrey, and a key figure for mainstream Democrats. Choosing him would unite the party around Carter after a competitive primary. He is also a team player and eager to campaign.
- Frank Church: Known for his opposition to the Vietnam War, and his investigations of America's intelligence bureaus, Church is popular among the anti-war bloc of the Democrats and boasts a national profile. He is also charismatic, perhaps too charismatic as he could overshadow the more soft-spoken Carter.
- John Glenn: The first American to orbit the earth during the Space Race who now serves as Governor of Ohio, which will be critical to win the election. Being new to the Senate, Glenn could reinforce Carter's outsider appeal, but lacks any connections among the Democrats and not many are enthused by him.
- Scoop Jackson: Jackson is a traditional Democrat, favoring both high levels of social spending and a strong national defense policy. He is not popular with the left-wing of the party, but is popular with moderates and would help flip his home state of Washington.
Gerald Ford[edit | edit source]
Gerald Ford succeeded Richard Nixon after the latter resigned, previously acting as his vice president. Ford's pardon of Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal is deeply unpopular, which has fed into the need for an outsider in the White House. To further add to Ford's troubles, the Republicans have splintered between moderates and Reaganites loyal to Ronald Reagan's vision for the party. To win, Ford must regain trust of the voter, united his party around him, and his position as incumbent president to his advantage.
Starting in a seemingly hopeless position, the only state where Ford has the lead is Utah.
Running Mates[edit | edit source]
Ford's possible running mates include Bob Dole, Howard Baker, John Anderson, and John Connally.
- Bob Dole: Dole is a well-respected, conservative Senator from Kansas. He could unite the party after a divisive primary fight, with Ronald Reagan himself having stated that Dole is a good pick for running mate. He is popular in the farm states and could help consolidate support in the Plains and Midwest. He is also known to have loose lips on the campaign trail, and does not hold back in his attacks.
- Howard Baker: The first Republican since Reconstruction to be elected to the Senate from Tennessee. Baker is heavily involved in the passage of most legislation, and is a leading voice among Congressional Republicans. He has a moderate reputation, but is not a first choice of the Reaganites.
- John Anderson: A long-time Congressman from Illinois who has conservative fiscal views and moderate social views, appealing to Republican moderates. He is also a strong critic of Nixon during the Watergate hearings, which could mitigate Carter's outsider appeal. Anderson could also flip Illinois, but would do little to win over the Reaganites.
- John Connally: Having served as Governor of Texas for six years, Connally could flip Texas in Ford's favor. He is strong on defense issues and conservative on social issues, and could even be seen as an olive branch to the Reaganites. He has good name-recognition, having been wounded in Kennedy's assassination.
Achievement[edit | edit source]
1976 has one achievement on the New Campaign Trail called Radical Liberal Jimmy Carter, which requires the player to win 400 electoral votes as Jimmy Carter while being firmly pro-choice and for universal healthcare.
