KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Correction. Now they are done. I posted them on the wrong turn.
MakeAmericaSaneAgain. A 2016 political campaign.
- Thread starter KarvokaQueen
- Start date
- Original
- Location
- Here
- Pronouns
- They/Them
So, thoughts on what actions to go for?
My personal inclinations
Campaign:
[] How to Ad for dummies. Your advertising department is kind of crap. Hardly surprising, given your background is Congress campaigns, where newspaper spots are the mainstay, not state-wide contests where TV ads rule. Expanding things so you can properly churn them out, at higher quality, would be a good (if expensive) investment. (Cost: 30k per turn until complete. 12k once complete. Time: 2 turns. Result: Ad attribute raised to 2.)
[] The plan. You need to bring Pataki in to plan out debating strategy. You could get badly fucked if you don't have a plan for dealing with the other candidates ahead of time. (Cost: Free. Results: Debate plan organised. You must write up this plan yourself. This prevents debate/issue familiarity decay this turn.)
We need our advertising stats up so we can make all our ads more effective, and hammering out a plan for the debates is key.
Research
[] Investigate Cool J's plan. You haven't palmed it off to Harry yet but it might pay to give it to him for a read. He's a pollster, so he's got experience. Hell, he can probably find some people to run. Maybe. (Cost: 10k. Chance of Success: Unknown (High) Result: 'The Plan' is investigated. Snazzy name thought up.)
We need to look into this, and it seems like the research action is better for it than a campaign action.
Pataki
Either lots of barnstorming, lots of speeches, or a mix of the two. With our staggered release of our platform, we should probably have Pataki doing at least one on theme speech every week to introduce each plank.
My personal inclinations
Campaign:
[] How to Ad for dummies. Your advertising department is kind of crap. Hardly surprising, given your background is Congress campaigns, where newspaper spots are the mainstay, not state-wide contests where TV ads rule. Expanding things so you can properly churn them out, at higher quality, would be a good (if expensive) investment. (Cost: 30k per turn until complete. 12k once complete. Time: 2 turns. Result: Ad attribute raised to 2.)
[] The plan. You need to bring Pataki in to plan out debating strategy. You could get badly fucked if you don't have a plan for dealing with the other candidates ahead of time. (Cost: Free. Results: Debate plan organised. You must write up this plan yourself. This prevents debate/issue familiarity decay this turn.)
We need our advertising stats up so we can make all our ads more effective, and hammering out a plan for the debates is key.
Research
[] Investigate Cool J's plan. You haven't palmed it off to Harry yet but it might pay to give it to him for a read. He's a pollster, so he's got experience. Hell, he can probably find some people to run. Maybe. (Cost: 10k. Chance of Success: Unknown (High) Result: 'The Plan' is investigated. Snazzy name thought up.)
We need to look into this, and it seems like the research action is better for it than a campaign action.
Pataki
Either lots of barnstorming, lots of speeches, or a mix of the two. With our staggered release of our platform, we should probably have Pataki doing at least one on theme speech every week to introduce each plank.
I know we want to investigate Cool J's plan but we can't keep this guy detained. That's kind of crazy.
Yeah, I mean I don't really care that we're keeping him in a supply closet. But I'm pretty sure every one else will. I think that should be a free action personally. Although I see why you didn't make it one.
- Location
- Canada
Keeping someone unlawfully detained is a good way for the Pataki campaign head straight into prison.
Stealthy
Reverently Irreverent
- Location
- Roaming
I would've expected "what to do with the spy" to be a separate question tbh.
Also, writing an editorial wouldn't be a terrible idea. I mean, yeah, keeping a campaign action is important, but we're much better off writing an editorial than an being on an interview (unless said interview is one where aggression is damn appropriate).
Aso for the debate plan... idk what we wanna press on but we should be prepped on the attack lines we'll get and what zingers we can throw back. The Donald, Walker, and Jeb are all people to really focus on, and Kasich's gaining ground as well. Proooobably Rubio. Because Rubio. Definitely not Carson or Huckabee. I'd much rather have them eating at the religious right vote over Cruz. That said... Ted Cruz did slightly better than Huckabee or Santorum did (they got 20% of the votes, he got 25) but he also stayed in the race longer and had "Never Trump" backing him. So some fear, but if we wind up with a contested convention I really don't wanna go up against Cruz because he did a crazy good job of making sure the delegates were on his side if they were released.
And of course, we really need to think up some good soundbites.
Also, writing an editorial wouldn't be a terrible idea. I mean, yeah, keeping a campaign action is important, but we're much better off writing an editorial than an being on an interview (unless said interview is one where aggression is damn appropriate).
Aso for the debate plan... idk what we wanna press on but we should be prepped on the attack lines we'll get and what zingers we can throw back. The Donald, Walker, and Jeb are all people to really focus on, and Kasich's gaining ground as well. Proooobably Rubio. Because Rubio. Definitely not Carson or Huckabee. I'd much rather have them eating at the religious right vote over Cruz. That said... Ted Cruz did slightly better than Huckabee or Santorum did (they got 20% of the votes, he got 25) but he also stayed in the race longer and had "Never Trump" backing him. So some fear, but if we wind up with a contested convention I really don't wanna go up against Cruz because he did a crazy good job of making sure the delegates were on his side if they were released.
And of course, we really need to think up some good soundbites.
I agree with everyone else. The decision over how to respond to Jeb's spy should be a separate action, not one of the three campaign actions we have for this entire week. There will be more spies in the future; it makes no sense to our entire campaign be absorbed by the recurring question of how to treat them.
Given that campaign spies are apparently commonplace here, and given that the average voter really doesn't care about "inside baseball" stuff like this, I'd suggest we just release the guy. If we want to lay groundwork for the future, we might ask the spy to 'confess' on tape, but even that's iffy. I suspect Jeb would probably appreciate it, that we didn't call him out -- honor amongst thieves, as it were -- which might help secure his endorsement down the road.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Shit. Just noticed. The 'what to do with the spy' is a free action
I'll fix it
I'll fix it
- Location
- I think somewhere. I might be nowhere though
Not to mention, campaign actions tend to be things that will take a long period of time, not something that would be dealt with within a few hours.
Stealthy
Reverently Irreverent
- Location
- Roaming
Best idea I have is to use it as an opportunity to get Jeb to play nice during the debate. Yadda yadda truce to take out Trump and Walker. Unless there's something really bad about it... don't need to draw attention back to our guy from our boneheaded decision to spy on Trump.
I disagree that we should focus on Walker. OOC, we know that Scott Walker's campaign was running on fumes -- Walker had overspent early on, was borrowing money like crazy to keep up, and his support was withering on the vine once Trump picked up steam. Walker will be a non-factor in the near future. It's actually in our interest to keep Walker around until after the Iowa caucus, since he'd definitely cut into Trump's share of the vote and might pull a bit from Cruz as well. A kind word or two during the debate might help us as well -- the pundits would probably be wondering what we were up to, and Walker might appreciate it enough to give us a hearing about why he should endorse us...
Kasich is a much more sizable threat at the moment -- we need to win New Hampshire or come in a close second, which means we need to prevent him from gaining momentum in that state. Bush will tread water thanks to his money, Rubio will tread water thanks to his charisma, but it was oddly Kasich who pulled away with the good result in New Hampshire that made him the establishment figurehead.
Also remember the early debates: Trump was a master at dismantling most of our opponents. Let him. Just make sure to counter-attack (though well after the fact). Trump is a fairly typical narcissist in that his most vicious criticisms tend to be projected from his own self-image, so whatever he attacks with, return the favor.
Bush is 'low energy'? "Say, whatever happened to Donald? I haven't heard from him for a half-hour -- you having some issues with low-energy over there?" (etc. for the other insults).
The trick is to keep our name in the headlines. There's a massive field of candidates -- any publicity is good publicity in this case (as Trump proved so thoroughly in his own campaign). That means we can't be boring. Each debate, we need to have one hashtag moment that will be remembered the next day, and keeps our name in the conversation.
- Location
- I think somewhere. I might be nowhere though
Slam for Democrat and Clinton, yes. inexperienced, no. He will just attempt to turn that into another message about why everyone who hates the current government should vote for him; because he has never been a politician.
Stealthy
Reverently Irreverent
- Location
- Roaming
Fair point on Walker. And yeah, directing liberal criticisms to Trump being a former Democrat and long term Clinton supporter seems like a good play.
[x] Plan Barnstorm Blanket
Replacing New Hampshire with a speech in the state is on the table as far as I'm concerned, but our first plank comes out next week. If we have another good subject then we should go for it.
I went with Invulnerable because fuck it why not.
We've got no lack of money atm. Fundraising options aren't worth it.
Cool J to Nevada because an event in Vegas sounds better than anything else. Also, would be a good warmup for Pataki presence in Nevada (next week? I think that Nevada is also a must-win. I doubt we'll take South Carolina, so we really need Nevada as our second win to put us in a good position for Super Tuesday (first being New Hampshire).
Gut says Libby's response to the abortion thing will play for better respect in New Hampshire than elsewhere. Could pull George out of Iowa to cover South Carolina.
Also, other reason to knock out Kasich, as we learned from the real election, if Kasich gets legs from New Hampshire he is gonna ride them all the fucking way until the Ohio primary. Not only will he eat votes, but I'd rather not cede Ohio's winner-take-all delegates, because by that point delegates matter.
Open to other ideas on what to do with the spy. Also need idea for our editorial. And definition of "in-theme".
[x] Plan Barnstorm Blanket
Campaign Actions
[] How to Ad for dummies. Your advertising department is kind of crap. Hardly surprising, given your background is Congress campaigns, where newspaper spots are the mainstay, not state-wide contests where TV ads rule. Expanding things so you can properly churn them out, at higher quality, would be a good (if expensive) investment. (Cost: 30k per turn until complete. 12k once complete. Time: 2 turns. Result: Ad attribute raised to 2.)
[] The plan. You need to bring Pataki in to plan out debating strategy. You could get badly fucked if you don't have a plan for dealing with the other candidates ahead of time. (Cost: Free. Results: Debate plan organised. You must write up this plan yourself. This prevents debate/issue familiarity decay this turn.)
[] Of course! The LVRJ (Las Vegas Review-Journal) is a voice of reason, and you are a Nevada boy born and raised, so you've got a connection to the place. Now to decide on a theme….. (Pick a topic to write on. You will get a bonus for 'in theme' topics)
Pataki Actions
[] New American Century vs. Marco Rubio. This could be an important test for just how well George can do articulating points.
[] Invulnerable. You've gotten a unique offer from a Colombian businessman, Miguel Caballero. To provide pataki with suits. In exchange for modelling his suits, and showing them off to the American public, he'll provide Pataki with several sets of suits with suits graded to resists up to M-16 rounds! (Cost:10k Time: 1 turn. Result: Pataki acquires bulletproof suits.)
[] Made from Granite. Well, after several weeks break, it might be a good idea to send George back into New Hampshire. It is a delicate balance between 'Campaigning too much' and 'Not campaigning enough'. Don't want to push too far in the other direction!. (Cost: 10k Chance of Success: 85% Result: Momentum in NH increased.)
[] Storm the barn! Pataki has taken some time off in Iowa, so sending him crashing back in wouldn't feel as much of an intrusion. With debates only a few weeks away, it's time to gear up for the long fight. Iowa is a crucial state, you have to do well. You've spent so much damn money on it! (Cost: 6k Chance of Success: 75% Result: Momentum in IA increased)
Harry Action
[] Investigate Cool J's plan. You haven't palmed it off to Harry yet but it might pay to give it to him for a read. He's a pollster, so he's got experience. Hell, he can probably find some people to run. Maybe. (Cost: 10k. Chance of Success: Unknown (High) Result: 'The Plan' is investigated. Snazzy name thought up.)
Libby Action
[] Hit the track. Libby has apparently worked on her speaking, time to put that to the test, and have her Barnstorm on her own! (Cost: 8k. Chance of Success: 75% Result: +Momentum in New Hampshire
LL Cool J Action
[] Barnstorm. Cool J is quite charismatic, you have to be, to be a prominent musician, and he's good with crowds, another positive! He's also black. That, if nothing else, will get people's attention. (Cost: 10k Chance of Success: 80% Result: Momentum in [STATE] raised. Specify State: Nevada
Spy Action
[] Figure out what the guy leaked to Jeb's campaign. Negotiate debate truce with Jeb.
[] How to Ad for dummies. Your advertising department is kind of crap. Hardly surprising, given your background is Congress campaigns, where newspaper spots are the mainstay, not state-wide contests where TV ads rule. Expanding things so you can properly churn them out, at higher quality, would be a good (if expensive) investment. (Cost: 30k per turn until complete. 12k once complete. Time: 2 turns. Result: Ad attribute raised to 2.)
[] The plan. You need to bring Pataki in to plan out debating strategy. You could get badly fucked if you don't have a plan for dealing with the other candidates ahead of time. (Cost: Free. Results: Debate plan organised. You must write up this plan yourself. This prevents debate/issue familiarity decay this turn.)
[] Of course! The LVRJ (Las Vegas Review-Journal) is a voice of reason, and you are a Nevada boy born and raised, so you've got a connection to the place. Now to decide on a theme….. (Pick a topic to write on. You will get a bonus for 'in theme' topics)
Pataki Actions
[] New American Century vs. Marco Rubio. This could be an important test for just how well George can do articulating points.
[] Invulnerable. You've gotten a unique offer from a Colombian businessman, Miguel Caballero. To provide pataki with suits. In exchange for modelling his suits, and showing them off to the American public, he'll provide Pataki with several sets of suits with suits graded to resists up to M-16 rounds! (Cost:10k Time: 1 turn. Result: Pataki acquires bulletproof suits.)
[] Made from Granite. Well, after several weeks break, it might be a good idea to send George back into New Hampshire. It is a delicate balance between 'Campaigning too much' and 'Not campaigning enough'. Don't want to push too far in the other direction!. (Cost: 10k Chance of Success: 85% Result: Momentum in NH increased.)
[] Storm the barn! Pataki has taken some time off in Iowa, so sending him crashing back in wouldn't feel as much of an intrusion. With debates only a few weeks away, it's time to gear up for the long fight. Iowa is a crucial state, you have to do well. You've spent so much damn money on it! (Cost: 6k Chance of Success: 75% Result: Momentum in IA increased)
Harry Action
[] Investigate Cool J's plan. You haven't palmed it off to Harry yet but it might pay to give it to him for a read. He's a pollster, so he's got experience. Hell, he can probably find some people to run. Maybe. (Cost: 10k. Chance of Success: Unknown (High) Result: 'The Plan' is investigated. Snazzy name thought up.)
Libby Action
[] Hit the track. Libby has apparently worked on her speaking, time to put that to the test, and have her Barnstorm on her own! (Cost: 8k. Chance of Success: 75% Result: +Momentum in New Hampshire
LL Cool J Action
[] Barnstorm. Cool J is quite charismatic, you have to be, to be a prominent musician, and he's good with crowds, another positive! He's also black. That, if nothing else, will get people's attention. (Cost: 10k Chance of Success: 80% Result: Momentum in [STATE] raised. Specify State: Nevada
Spy Action
[] Figure out what the guy leaked to Jeb's campaign. Negotiate debate truce with Jeb.
Replacing New Hampshire with a speech in the state is on the table as far as I'm concerned, but our first plank comes out next week. If we have another good subject then we should go for it.
I went with Invulnerable because fuck it why not.
We've got no lack of money atm. Fundraising options aren't worth it.
Cool J to Nevada because an event in Vegas sounds better than anything else. Also, would be a good warmup for Pataki presence in Nevada (next week? I think that Nevada is also a must-win. I doubt we'll take South Carolina, so we really need Nevada as our second win to put us in a good position for Super Tuesday (first being New Hampshire).
Gut says Libby's response to the abortion thing will play for better respect in New Hampshire than elsewhere. Could pull George out of Iowa to cover South Carolina.
Also, other reason to knock out Kasich, as we learned from the real election, if Kasich gets legs from New Hampshire he is gonna ride them all the fucking way until the Ohio primary. Not only will he eat votes, but I'd rather not cede Ohio's winner-take-all delegates, because by that point delegates matter.
Open to other ideas on what to do with the spy. Also need idea for our editorial. And definition of "in-theme".
Goddamn, I never expected this quest to be so fun when I first saw it.
Well, I may be only an observer, mostly, and I can't say I have much of an head for politics but... This is kinda the first words our guy will state for the public about the campaign, right? How about going with why we're riding this crazy train with Pataki? Can either go with his stances and why we agree with those, or attack opponents on why they shouldn't be picked. But for a first editorial, maybe staying positive is better, see how the public react to our words first before being aggressive in possible future editorials.
Basically, showing why we're shedding all that sweat and blood for and why we absolutely believe it's worth it.
And now you made me post too!
Well, I may be only an observer, mostly, and I can't say I have much of an head for politics but... This is kinda the first words our guy will state for the public about the campaign, right? How about going with why we're riding this crazy train with Pataki? Can either go with his stances and why we agree with those, or attack opponents on why they shouldn't be picked. But for a first editorial, maybe staying positive is better, see how the public react to our words first before being aggressive in possible future editorials.
Basically, showing why we're shedding all that sweat and blood for and why we absolutely believe it's worth it.
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Artemis
What's a pirate's least favourite letter?
- Location
- The Seven Seas
CHANGING VOTE
And now, for the editorial.
---
You remember when you were drafting up your schedule for the week. You had thought to yourself, "Oh, editorials? Hell, I can do that."
You fucking can't. Christ, your essays from sixth fucking grade would look better than this trash. How the hell did you screw this up, of all things? You've written seven different drafts, and each one is worse than the rest.
"Wow boss, don't know how you've done it but these all have the flavour of cigar smoke, unrelenting alcoholism, and hatred."
"Jeanie, this isn't a joke. I've got to get something into them tomorrow. Something that makes some fucking sense! I can't send them some bullshit about planks, because Pataki hasn't introduced the damn things, and I can't steal Pataki's thunder, or this campaign comes crashing to the ground. What the hell is relevant, that isn't gonna get me torn up like a rabbit?"
"Eh, don't worry about it so much. You think people are actually gonna care? Pataki is what people want to know about."
Underneath the haze of nicotine, caffeine, and ethanol, neurons start firing. An idea comes to light, and you grin as it takes hold. "I've fucking got it."
"Good to hear, boss."
"I'll need another coffee. And the best press photo we've got of Pataki at a speech. Now," you turn back to the computer, Jeanie already forgotten, "let's see what I can do..."
And now, for the editorial.
---
You remember when you were drafting up your schedule for the week. You had thought to yourself, "Oh, editorials? Hell, I can do that."
You fucking can't. Christ, your essays from sixth fucking grade would look better than this trash. How the hell did you screw this up, of all things? You've written seven different drafts, and each one is worse than the rest.
"Wow boss, don't know how you've done it but these all have the flavour of cigar smoke, unrelenting alcoholism, and hatred."
"Jeanie, this isn't a joke. I've got to get something into them tomorrow. Something that makes some fucking sense! I can't send them some bullshit about planks, because Pataki hasn't introduced the damn things, and I can't steal Pataki's thunder, or this campaign comes crashing to the ground. What the hell is relevant, that isn't gonna get me torn up like a rabbit?"
"Eh, don't worry about it so much. You think people are actually gonna care? Pataki is what people want to know about."
Underneath the haze of nicotine, caffeine, and ethanol, neurons start firing. An idea comes to light, and you grin as it takes hold. "I've fucking got it."
"Good to hear, boss."
"I'll need another coffee. And the best press photo we've got of Pataki at a speech. Now," you turn back to the computer, Jeanie already forgotten, "let's see what I can do..."
PATAKI FOR PRESIDENT
The best man you'll ever get in that damn office is right here
by Peter Laxalt.
The best man you'll ever get in that damn office is right here
by Peter Laxalt.
Listen, you think your candidate is all that hot shit, huh? I've gotta admit, I don't particularly care. I'm a campaign guy: my job is to make others care, and that leaves me with about as much emotion and empathy as Donald fucking Trump, and about as human, too. It means I'm good at endorsing people I don't give two flying fucks about, and it means that at the end of the day I'm still gonna drown myself in a bottle of whiskey.
Except one man. The best man that you're gonna see for a long while. George Pataki. The man who not just made me a lifelong Republican, but a lifelong Pataki fan. Now that I'm his campaign manager, it's my job to explain to you, all of you, exactly why this is the best man you're going to get...
---
We've got a man who's Angrish, a man who's focused, and supporting the candidate that he arguably wants to. Why can't we play into that? In terms of on topic, Pataki's as good as you get. Why Pataki? And we can tell the nation.
Count it as an omake if other people have a better idea.
Except one man. The best man that you're gonna see for a long while. George Pataki. The man who not just made me a lifelong Republican, but a lifelong Pataki fan. Now that I'm his campaign manager, it's my job to explain to you, all of you, exactly why this is the best man you're going to get...
---
We've got a man who's Angrish, a man who's focused, and supporting the candidate that he arguably wants to. Why can't we play into that? In terms of on topic, Pataki's as good as you get. Why Pataki? And we can tell the nation.
Count it as an omake if other people have a better idea.
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KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
I love it. +5 to editorial roll.
That stacks, if anyone else wants to write something!
Artemis
What's a pirate's least favourite letter?
- Location
- The Seven Seas
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Well, George does have the merit of honor of the Hungarian Republic
There is no such thing as Hungarian Republic, it is called Hungary now. Also my bet is he wants an in with a possible president, and trying to make sure the strained relations his goverment had with the US ease up a bit after the election. Or he just wants to look and feel himself important.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
It is the name of the award. Sorry for the mistranslation.
Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[X] Plan Publicola
(Reasoning: lots of stuff. I'd like to use the spy we caught to start a twitter war/hashtag campaign making fun of Jeb. I'd also like to emphasize our campaign presence in New Hampshire and South Carolina, to build on our strength going in to the first debate.)
[X] Put off the Foreign policy debate. They don't need a hard response yet. This is for the August issue.
(Reasoning: August is when the refugee crisis really heats up. Unfortunately, Pataki isn't prepared to discuss foreign policy -- he's familiar with the issues, but we haven't fleshed out our platform yet. Also, better to use Pataki for "pressing the flesh" and getting votes, than writing an article that will have questionable impact on the race when it gets published a month later...
[X] Of course! The LVRJ (Las Vegas Review-Journal) is a voice of reason, and you are a Nevada boy born and raised, so you've got a connection to the place. Now to decide on a theme…..
-[X] "Make America Sane Again: The best man you'll ever get in that damn office is right here
(Reasoning: this is certainly an unconventional first move, and Laxalt isn't charismatic at all, but angry works well in print, and the voting population has plenty of anger this year. Use the editorial to present the issues and solutions we will be raising in our Major Planks. Make sure to clarify (1) Pataki's outstanding reputation while in office, and (2) the fact that Pataki basically retired for the last decade, and is coming out of retirement because he saw that no one else could be trusted to fight for sanity -- that is, everyone else is either idiotic or venal, and the Republican Party deserves better. This makes Laxalt the face of angry/negative campaigning, while Pataki can keep a cheery/more upbeat public persona. I definitely like Artemis' opening, so if we can tie it to our campaign theme I'd be quite pleased.)
CAMPAIGN ACTIONS: PickThree Two.
[X] How to Ad for dummies. Your advertising department is kind of crap. Hardly surprising, given your background is Congress campaigns, where newspaper spots are the mainstay, not state-wide contests where TV ads rule. Expanding things so you can properly churn them out, at higher quality, would be a good (if expensive) investment. (Cost: 30k per turn until complete. 12k once complete. Time: 2 turns. Result: Ad attribute raised to 2.)
[X] The plan. You need to bring Pataki in to plan out debating strategy. You could get badly fucked if you don't have a plan for dealing with the other candidates ahead of time. (Cost: Free. Results: Debate plan organised. You must write up this plan yourself. This prevents debate/issue familiarity decay this turn.)
(Reasoning: I'd prefer to keep up our "ads of the future" twitter-warring, but our Ad attribute sucks and this should help for the long run. Still: running (expensive) ads isn't the best idea when you can get quite a bit of publicity for free instead. I'll outline the Debate Plan after finishing the rest of this post, but the general idea is what I've outlined before -- play nice with Scott Walker and Jeb, punch back against Trump whenever opportunity knocks.)
1) Okay, first, some general guidelines. Listen up! You know, as I know, and as I know you know, that the first Presidential Debate of the cycle is where you get to make your first impression on Republican voters. Of course, that's not really true. Very few people actually bother to watch the thing, and most of those that do are already so heavily involved in the election that they're willing to invest hours to watch a mind-numbing debate so early in the cycle. Very few people are actually looking to make up their minds at this point. So it doesn't really matter.
2) Wrong! The televised debate doesn't matter, but the perception of the debate does. You don't need to 'win' the debate in the usual sense. Your goal is to make sure your name shows up when people talk about the debate. There are plenty of fish in the sea and candidates in the field, and we need media attention to stay afloat. Your goal is to get your face in the news clips afterward, your name in the summary articles published the next morning, your campaign theme in the back of people's minds the following week.
3) How do you do this? By ignoring the big picture. The debate is a televised program, yes, but people won't remember it as a single cohesive event. What they'll remember, are moments. Gaffes, one-liners, that sort of thing. Rarely it's a general gist of 'better/worse than expected', but that rarely has much effect on polls. Your goal is not to win the debate as a whole. Your goal is to win the post-debate, by creating those moments.
4) What does that mean? Well, it means you don't have to answer every question. It means you can focus your attention on a few topics that play to your strengths. Be honest, and acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses. If you're having trouble with Aleppo, don't insert yourself in that conversation! And if you're asked about it directly... well, you have a few options. Deflect and revert to your key points if needed. A riskier option would be to break with tradition and admit: I don't know yet. Syria is complicated, life is too complicated for soundbites, but you're putting serious time and effort into it, listening to the experts, and you'll have a plan soon enough. This year, sounding like a non-politician is a virtue. Plus, you're campaigning as the voice of sanity and reason -- if you can't get away with sounding like a normal person, no one can.
5) It also means taking targets of opportunity. Trump is probably the most best option for this. We already know Trump will be attacking everyone and everything. That's no surprise. He'll probably attack you -- it might even get under your skin. Don't let it burrow too deep. Remember that Trump is a narcissist: everything is about him, up to and including the personality flaws of the people around him. Just realize that whatever insults he uses -- on you, on other candidates, on the moderators, on anyone else -- are probably true of himself as well. Find ways to turn the insults he uses on others against him, and chances are you'll be more spot-on than you think. Also remember your Thomas More: "the devil, that proud spirit, cannot bear to be mocked." Realize that he's a serious contender, sure, but never treat him as such to his face. Make it obvious in your approach that you consider him a ludicrous little man, a buffoonish 'Mean Girl' with an oversized Burn Book, a pop-culture clown whose antics are only discussed because everyone is laughing at him. He's a male Lady Gaga who's been around since the 80's. See how he responds when someone gets under his skin.
5) Play nice with the other front-runners. Scott Walker's numbers are in free fall, he's so boring. A kind word or gesture might go a long way in securing his endorsement and help. If you're willing, back him up when Trump goes on the offensive. Don't bother defending Jeb -- he's a nice guy, but dull as a butter-knife and is practically the living incarnation of the establishment. Just remember to listen to Trump's insults, and return them to sender later in the debate. Ben Carson is a non-entity, but don't criticize him -- for whatever reason, the voters seem to love the guy, so going negative could backfire. Marco Rubio, you want to treat like a precocious kid. Praise him and dismiss him in the same breath. His comprehensive immigration reform was actually pretty decent, but he ignored the political reality and got burned badly. The other candidates will play it as "Rubio betrayed his constituents"; I'm more interested in playing it as "Rubio was a little kid in over his head." It may not work for long -- may not work at all -- but let's see how it plays. You might consider the same approach with Rand Paul -- too young, too inexperienced, too willing to trust the establishment when he arrived in DC.
6) You don't need to play nice with Ted Cruz. He's building his campaign on an appeal to principle, to consistency of character. The problem is, at least subconsciously, no one trusts him. Seriously, look at the way he smiles -- it's like a predator watching prey. Feel free to needle him for being an opportunisitc sleazeball -- he shut down the government not to repeal Obamacara, nor as a symbol of the fight to repeal Obamacare, but because it was the best way to get his name in print as the 'only honest politician in DC' who was still willing to fight to repeal Obamacare. It doesn't even need to be true -- there's no way to prove one way or another what his actual intentions were, and his fans seem to believe him when he says it's pure selfless principle. But not even they trust it fully, because of that face!
7) Christie and Kasich require a more delicate touch. They're 'bit players' who are on the outside looking in -- I'm not even sure if they'll get to the main stage. Christie is abrasive as hell, but a gifted debater and he'll look to make you stumble so he can fill the void. Try to avoid a fight, and the moderators will keep him on the sidelines with the time limits. Kasich is a decent moderate governor, but is almost as bland as Bush, and his campaign strategy is staking everything on New Hampshire and Ohio. We need to get him out of the field if we want to have any shot at consolidating our support. We'd like his endorsement, so I'd say we should play nice and let Trump and the rest swat at him for now. You may also make overtures to the second-tier debaters if you get a chance to see them -- I'm pretty sure Rick Perry will drop out soon, and the others have little chance of making progress, and we could use their endorsements.
8) As for the issues... well, have you noticed? They don't really matter. Issues are props in this sort of debate; they can be useful, but they're not the main course. The big worry is gaffes, so you'll want to stick to the script and focus on your already-released planks. We'll be adding most of the rest by the second debate, but this one is to establish your reputation for law & order and for reform-minded sanity. Whenever you get a chance, focus on your two Major Planks, and maybe hint at the upcoming science one. The other key point is: don't repeat yourself.
9) The big one to prepare for is abortion -- you called yourself 'pro-choice' to get elected in New York, but that's not going to play well in a national Republican primary. We're presenting our approach as a hardline stand for pragmatism, and we're releasing the plank when the debate starts -- unless you'd prefer we release it whenever you're asked about abortion? It might be smart to wait until you are asked, since if they skip the topic, you'll have wasted an ambush for nothing.... Anyway, we've prepped the ambush, so make sure to get out in front of the story and be assertive about it. Take a hint from your wife -- her Q&A seemed to go over really well. Oh, and shut it with the "personally view it as abhorrent" vs. "politically unwilling to impose" thing -- it's cliche, and fools no one. Your approach from here out needs to be "this is how to get results" -- act like everyone agrees on the principle of the thing, but that you'll get it done.
10) The moderators will probably bring up Trump's stance on immigration, so if you want to take a swing at fixing those laws, that might be a good chance. They might also ask you about Snowden and the NSA program, given your reputation and law & order platform. You'll probably clash with Rand Paul on that one, since he's the only one who really disagrees with you. I'd say you should praise his adherence to principle, but target his inexperience (that he trusts McConnell and the establishment to run our government, and so obviously doesn't know the ways of the world, that sort of thing.
All right, let's put you through a few rounds of practice debates and see how much of that you get right!
Notes from Debate Prep
Laxalt's guidelines for Pataki
Transcribed (and self-censored) by Peter Parker
RESEARCH TEAM. Pick One. (Two locked)
[X] What to do with the spy. The Jeb Campaign operative is now unofficially detained by Harry, who has posted an intern outside the supply closet he's being kept in. You are debating calling the police, or using it to blackmail/slander Jeb. (Cost: Free action. Result: Spy dealt with.)
-[X] Organize a quick photoshoot for the captured spy. If/when he objects, use blackmail -- we either call the police and arrange for a perp walk in front of the press, or you stick around for an extra hour, no harm no foul.
-[X] Pose him at desk (looking nerdy), in front of green screen (lots of options/poses here), have him wear a tuxedo + holding a martini class, or tuxedo + wielding pocket calculator like a pistol, etc.
-[X] After photoshoot, escort spy out of building without further ado.
-[X] Post pics to Twitter, start a hashtag making fun of Jeb! campaign's incompetence/lack of charisma
(Reasoning: I like the idea of low-key revenge. We're not accusing him of nefarious deeds, but of incompetence. He sent someone who looks like a rather dumpy accountant, to play James Bond and infiltrate our campaign. That's funny. Maybe try to start a hashtag about how even Jeb's secret agents lack charisma, what the CIA would look like under a President Jeb, how every spy will be issued a pocket protector for use in the field, etc.)
[X] Investigate Cool J's plan. You haven't palmed it off to Harry yet but it might pay to give it to him for a read. He's a pollster, so he's got experience. Hell, he can probably find some people to run. Maybe. (Cost: 10k. Chance of Success: Unknown (High) Result: 'The Plan' is investigated. Snazzy name thought up.)
(Reasoning: only available action -- the other takes two slots. Anyway, this is an interesting idea, though woefully imprecise. Is it simply to partner with upcoming state & local politicians, or to recruit new faces to run for political office? Because some of the names mentioned aren't 'new' by any stretch. Also, if we're coming up with snazzy names, can I recommend "The Sanity Squad"?)
(Also: 'Beanslide' and 'Expanding surveillance' are locked.)
PATAKI ACTIONS (Pick 4)
[X] Practice debate. Having a few practice debates with the team should get George in the right state of mind for August. Sure, it's awhile away, but it doesn't hurt to prepare. (Debating skill increased by +10)
[X] In the shade of the Palm Trees. With you doing better in South Carolina than you thought, it might be a good idea to give the other two states a rest, and start stomping in SC. It'd be a big kick up the pants to state morale! (Cost: 10k. Chance of Success: 75% Result: Momentum/Footsoldier morale raised in SC)
[X] Invulnerable. You've gotten a unique offer from a Colombian businessman, Miguel Caballero. To provide pataki with suits. In exchange for modelling his suits, and showing them off to the American public, he'll provide Pataki with several sets of suits with suits graded to resists up to M-16 rounds! (Cost:10k Time: 1 turn. Result: Pataki acquires bulletproof suits.)
[X] Made from Granite. Well, after several weeks break, it might be a good idea to send George back into New Hampshire. It is a delicate balance between 'Campaigning too much' and 'Not campaigning enough'. Don't want to push too far in the other direction!. (Cost: 10k Chance of Success: 85% Result: Momentum in NH increased.)
(Reasoning: lots of options here. My top two picks were 'shade of palm trees' and 'brushing up old contacts'. Iowa is always going to be longshot, but we need to perform well in New Hampshire and South Carolina (especially the latter, which is winner-take-all.Use Pataki's old rolodex and get some endorsers in NH, while appearing personally in South Carolin to boost morale. 'Invulnerable' is... interesting. Not sure how much we gain from it, but I guess it can't hurt to make our guy bulletproof. Anyway, I doubt it's urgent, but we'll probably be far too busy later in the cycle to grab it, while we have much more flexibility right now. Finally, I also picked 'practice debate' -- I know it isn't possible to get Pataki up to a 5 attribute by the first debate, but I'd really like him to be outstanding on stage by the second or third debate as more people tune in, so we should get him started on that now).
EDIT: doesn't look there's anyone important in NH left to endorse us. I changed it to have Pataki campaign in the state directly.
(Reasoning, part 2: as for the option I didn't pick, I believe strongly that we should wait on 'Throw Down' until after the first debate. There's a general rule in politics that the first person to 'go negative' in a campaign loses the most (since people associate him with the nastiness, regardless of their opinion of the target/victim). Twitter wars don't count, since they're relatively minor and unobtrusive. Trump will throw the first punch at everyone in the first debate, so if we wait until then it will give us a proper casus belli.
LIBBY PATAKI ACTIONS (Pick One)
[X] Hit the track. Libby has apparently worked on her speaking, time to put that to the test, and have her Barnstorm on her own! (Cost: 8k. Chance of Success: 75% Result: +Momentum in [STATE].
-[X] South Carolina
-[X] Follow George to barnstorm in New Hampshire if possible
(Reasoning: let's be nice to the first couple and let them campaign together for a week. Plus, Libby went over really well in South Carolina last time, so she might be able to take the 'edge' off Pataki's general New Yorker-ness.)
JAMES TODD SMITH
[X] Barnstorm. Cool J is quite charismatic, you have to be, to be a prominent musician, and he's good with crowds, another positive! He's also black. That, if nothing else, will get people's attention. (Cost: 10k Chance of Success: 80% Result: Momentum in [STATE] raised. Specify State.)
-[X] Nevada
(Reasoning: high-charisma non-politician who can grab people's attention? Let's send him to NevadaNew Hampshire where those assets can be fully brought to bear. I might be willing to change this to Nevada, but frankly I think we'd get a lot more out of emphasizing Pataki's awesomeness in the second sate to vote. Between this and the endorsements, we should be able to gin up quite a bit of enthusiasm for Pataki's appearance in the state next week for his "People Over Politics" Plank speech.)
(Reasoning: lots of stuff. I'd like to use the spy we caught to start a twitter war/hashtag campaign making fun of Jeb. I'd also like to emphasize our campaign presence in New Hampshire and South Carolina, to build on our strength going in to the first debate.)
[X] Put off the Foreign policy debate. They don't need a hard response yet. This is for the August issue.
(Reasoning: August is when the refugee crisis really heats up. Unfortunately, Pataki isn't prepared to discuss foreign policy -- he's familiar with the issues, but we haven't fleshed out our platform yet. Also, better to use Pataki for "pressing the flesh" and getting votes, than writing an article that will have questionable impact on the race when it gets published a month later...
[X] Of course! The LVRJ (Las Vegas Review-Journal) is a voice of reason, and you are a Nevada boy born and raised, so you've got a connection to the place. Now to decide on a theme…..
-[X] "Make America Sane Again: The best man you'll ever get in that damn office is right here
(Reasoning: this is certainly an unconventional first move, and Laxalt isn't charismatic at all, but angry works well in print, and the voting population has plenty of anger this year. Use the editorial to present the issues and solutions we will be raising in our Major Planks. Make sure to clarify (1) Pataki's outstanding reputation while in office, and (2) the fact that Pataki basically retired for the last decade, and is coming out of retirement because he saw that no one else could be trusted to fight for sanity -- that is, everyone else is either idiotic or venal, and the Republican Party deserves better. This makes Laxalt the face of angry/negative campaigning, while Pataki can keep a cheery/more upbeat public persona. I definitely like Artemis' opening, so if we can tie it to our campaign theme I'd be quite pleased.)
CAMPAIGN ACTIONS: Pick
[X] How to Ad for dummies. Your advertising department is kind of crap. Hardly surprising, given your background is Congress campaigns, where newspaper spots are the mainstay, not state-wide contests where TV ads rule. Expanding things so you can properly churn them out, at higher quality, would be a good (if expensive) investment. (Cost: 30k per turn until complete. 12k once complete. Time: 2 turns. Result: Ad attribute raised to 2.)
[X] The plan. You need to bring Pataki in to plan out debating strategy. You could get badly fucked if you don't have a plan for dealing with the other candidates ahead of time. (Cost: Free. Results: Debate plan organised. You must write up this plan yourself. This prevents debate/issue familiarity decay this turn.)
(Reasoning: I'd prefer to keep up our "ads of the future" twitter-warring, but our Ad attribute sucks and this should help for the long run. Still: running (expensive) ads isn't the best idea when you can get quite a bit of publicity for free instead. I'll outline the Debate Plan after finishing the rest of this post, but the general idea is what I've outlined before -- play nice with Scott Walker and Jeb, punch back against Trump whenever opportunity knocks.)
1) Okay, first, some general guidelines. Listen up! You know, as I know, and as I know you know, that the first Presidential Debate of the cycle is where you get to make your first impression on Republican voters. Of course, that's not really true. Very few people actually bother to watch the thing, and most of those that do are already so heavily involved in the election that they're willing to invest hours to watch a mind-numbing debate so early in the cycle. Very few people are actually looking to make up their minds at this point. So it doesn't really matter.
2) Wrong! The televised debate doesn't matter, but the perception of the debate does. You don't need to 'win' the debate in the usual sense. Your goal is to make sure your name shows up when people talk about the debate. There are plenty of fish in the sea and candidates in the field, and we need media attention to stay afloat. Your goal is to get your face in the news clips afterward, your name in the summary articles published the next morning, your campaign theme in the back of people's minds the following week.
3) How do you do this? By ignoring the big picture. The debate is a televised program, yes, but people won't remember it as a single cohesive event. What they'll remember, are moments. Gaffes, one-liners, that sort of thing. Rarely it's a general gist of 'better/worse than expected', but that rarely has much effect on polls. Your goal is not to win the debate as a whole. Your goal is to win the post-debate, by creating those moments.
4) What does that mean? Well, it means you don't have to answer every question. It means you can focus your attention on a few topics that play to your strengths. Be honest, and acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses. If you're having trouble with Aleppo, don't insert yourself in that conversation! And if you're asked about it directly... well, you have a few options. Deflect and revert to your key points if needed. A riskier option would be to break with tradition and admit: I don't know yet. Syria is complicated, life is too complicated for soundbites, but you're putting serious time and effort into it, listening to the experts, and you'll have a plan soon enough. This year, sounding like a non-politician is a virtue. Plus, you're campaigning as the voice of sanity and reason -- if you can't get away with sounding like a normal person, no one can.
5) It also means taking targets of opportunity. Trump is probably the most best option for this. We already know Trump will be attacking everyone and everything. That's no surprise. He'll probably attack you -- it might even get under your skin. Don't let it burrow too deep. Remember that Trump is a narcissist: everything is about him, up to and including the personality flaws of the people around him. Just realize that whatever insults he uses -- on you, on other candidates, on the moderators, on anyone else -- are probably true of himself as well. Find ways to turn the insults he uses on others against him, and chances are you'll be more spot-on than you think. Also remember your Thomas More: "the devil, that proud spirit, cannot bear to be mocked." Realize that he's a serious contender, sure, but never treat him as such to his face. Make it obvious in your approach that you consider him a ludicrous little man, a buffoonish 'Mean Girl' with an oversized Burn Book, a pop-culture clown whose antics are only discussed because everyone is laughing at him. He's a male Lady Gaga who's been around since the 80's. See how he responds when someone gets under his skin.
5) Play nice with the other front-runners. Scott Walker's numbers are in free fall, he's so boring. A kind word or gesture might go a long way in securing his endorsement and help. If you're willing, back him up when Trump goes on the offensive. Don't bother defending Jeb -- he's a nice guy, but dull as a butter-knife and is practically the living incarnation of the establishment. Just remember to listen to Trump's insults, and return them to sender later in the debate. Ben Carson is a non-entity, but don't criticize him -- for whatever reason, the voters seem to love the guy, so going negative could backfire. Marco Rubio, you want to treat like a precocious kid. Praise him and dismiss him in the same breath. His comprehensive immigration reform was actually pretty decent, but he ignored the political reality and got burned badly. The other candidates will play it as "Rubio betrayed his constituents"; I'm more interested in playing it as "Rubio was a little kid in over his head." It may not work for long -- may not work at all -- but let's see how it plays. You might consider the same approach with Rand Paul -- too young, too inexperienced, too willing to trust the establishment when he arrived in DC.
6) You don't need to play nice with Ted Cruz. He's building his campaign on an appeal to principle, to consistency of character. The problem is, at least subconsciously, no one trusts him. Seriously, look at the way he smiles -- it's like a predator watching prey. Feel free to needle him for being an opportunisitc sleazeball -- he shut down the government not to repeal Obamacara, nor as a symbol of the fight to repeal Obamacare, but because it was the best way to get his name in print as the 'only honest politician in DC' who was still willing to fight to repeal Obamacare. It doesn't even need to be true -- there's no way to prove one way or another what his actual intentions were, and his fans seem to believe him when he says it's pure selfless principle. But not even they trust it fully, because of that face!
7) Christie and Kasich require a more delicate touch. They're 'bit players' who are on the outside looking in -- I'm not even sure if they'll get to the main stage. Christie is abrasive as hell, but a gifted debater and he'll look to make you stumble so he can fill the void. Try to avoid a fight, and the moderators will keep him on the sidelines with the time limits. Kasich is a decent moderate governor, but is almost as bland as Bush, and his campaign strategy is staking everything on New Hampshire and Ohio. We need to get him out of the field if we want to have any shot at consolidating our support. We'd like his endorsement, so I'd say we should play nice and let Trump and the rest swat at him for now. You may also make overtures to the second-tier debaters if you get a chance to see them -- I'm pretty sure Rick Perry will drop out soon, and the others have little chance of making progress, and we could use their endorsements.
8) As for the issues... well, have you noticed? They don't really matter. Issues are props in this sort of debate; they can be useful, but they're not the main course. The big worry is gaffes, so you'll want to stick to the script and focus on your already-released planks. We'll be adding most of the rest by the second debate, but this one is to establish your reputation for law & order and for reform-minded sanity. Whenever you get a chance, focus on your two Major Planks, and maybe hint at the upcoming science one. The other key point is: don't repeat yourself.
9) The big one to prepare for is abortion -- you called yourself 'pro-choice' to get elected in New York, but that's not going to play well in a national Republican primary. We're presenting our approach as a hardline stand for pragmatism, and we're releasing the plank when the debate starts -- unless you'd prefer we release it whenever you're asked about abortion? It might be smart to wait until you are asked, since if they skip the topic, you'll have wasted an ambush for nothing.... Anyway, we've prepped the ambush, so make sure to get out in front of the story and be assertive about it. Take a hint from your wife -- her Q&A seemed to go over really well. Oh, and shut it with the "personally view it as abhorrent" vs. "politically unwilling to impose" thing -- it's cliche, and fools no one. Your approach from here out needs to be "this is how to get results" -- act like everyone agrees on the principle of the thing, but that you'll get it done.
10) The moderators will probably bring up Trump's stance on immigration, so if you want to take a swing at fixing those laws, that might be a good chance. They might also ask you about Snowden and the NSA program, given your reputation and law & order platform. You'll probably clash with Rand Paul on that one, since he's the only one who really disagrees with you. I'd say you should praise his adherence to principle, but target his inexperience (that he trusts McConnell and the establishment to run our government, and so obviously doesn't know the ways of the world, that sort of thing.
All right, let's put you through a few rounds of practice debates and see how much of that you get right!
Notes from Debate Prep
Laxalt's guidelines for Pataki
Transcribed (and self-censored) by Peter Parker
RESEARCH TEAM. Pick One. (Two locked)
[X] What to do with the spy. The Jeb Campaign operative is now unofficially detained by Harry, who has posted an intern outside the supply closet he's being kept in. You are debating calling the police, or using it to blackmail/slander Jeb. (Cost: Free action. Result: Spy dealt with.)
-[X] Organize a quick photoshoot for the captured spy. If/when he objects, use blackmail -- we either call the police and arrange for a perp walk in front of the press, or you stick around for an extra hour, no harm no foul.
-[X] Pose him at desk (looking nerdy), in front of green screen (lots of options/poses here), have him wear a tuxedo + holding a martini class, or tuxedo + wielding pocket calculator like a pistol, etc.
-[X] After photoshoot, escort spy out of building without further ado.
-[X] Post pics to Twitter, start a hashtag making fun of Jeb! campaign's incompetence/lack of charisma
(Reasoning: I like the idea of low-key revenge. We're not accusing him of nefarious deeds, but of incompetence. He sent someone who looks like a rather dumpy accountant, to play James Bond and infiltrate our campaign. That's funny. Maybe try to start a hashtag about how even Jeb's secret agents lack charisma, what the CIA would look like under a President Jeb, how every spy will be issued a pocket protector for use in the field, etc.)
[X] Investigate Cool J's plan. You haven't palmed it off to Harry yet but it might pay to give it to him for a read. He's a pollster, so he's got experience. Hell, he can probably find some people to run. Maybe. (Cost: 10k. Chance of Success: Unknown (High) Result: 'The Plan' is investigated. Snazzy name thought up.)
(Reasoning: only available action -- the other takes two slots. Anyway, this is an interesting idea, though woefully imprecise. Is it simply to partner with upcoming state & local politicians, or to recruit new faces to run for political office? Because some of the names mentioned aren't 'new' by any stretch. Also, if we're coming up with snazzy names, can I recommend "The Sanity Squad"?)
(Also: 'Beanslide' and 'Expanding surveillance' are locked.)
PATAKI ACTIONS (Pick 4)
[X] Practice debate. Having a few practice debates with the team should get George in the right state of mind for August. Sure, it's awhile away, but it doesn't hurt to prepare. (Debating skill increased by +10)
[X] In the shade of the Palm Trees. With you doing better in South Carolina than you thought, it might be a good idea to give the other two states a rest, and start stomping in SC. It'd be a big kick up the pants to state morale! (Cost: 10k. Chance of Success: 75% Result: Momentum/Footsoldier morale raised in SC)
[X] Invulnerable. You've gotten a unique offer from a Colombian businessman, Miguel Caballero. To provide pataki with suits. In exchange for modelling his suits, and showing them off to the American public, he'll provide Pataki with several sets of suits with suits graded to resists up to M-16 rounds! (Cost:10k Time: 1 turn. Result: Pataki acquires bulletproof suits.)
[X] Made from Granite. Well, after several weeks break, it might be a good idea to send George back into New Hampshire. It is a delicate balance between 'Campaigning too much' and 'Not campaigning enough'. Don't want to push too far in the other direction!. (Cost: 10k Chance of Success: 85% Result: Momentum in NH increased.)
(Reasoning: lots of options here. My top two picks were 'shade of palm trees' and 'brushing up old contacts'. Iowa is always going to be longshot, but we need to perform well in New Hampshire and South Carolina (especially the latter, which is winner-take-all.
EDIT: doesn't look there's anyone important in NH left to endorse us. I changed it to have Pataki campaign in the state directly.
(Reasoning, part 2: as for the option I didn't pick, I believe strongly that we should wait on 'Throw Down' until after the first debate. There's a general rule in politics that the first person to 'go negative' in a campaign loses the most (since people associate him with the nastiness, regardless of their opinion of the target/victim). Twitter wars don't count, since they're relatively minor and unobtrusive. Trump will throw the first punch at everyone in the first debate, so if we wait until then it will give us a proper casus belli.
LIBBY PATAKI ACTIONS (Pick One)
[X] Hit the track. Libby has apparently worked on her speaking, time to put that to the test, and have her Barnstorm on her own! (Cost: 8k. Chance of Success: 75% Result: +Momentum in [STATE].
-[X] South Carolina
-[X] Follow George to barnstorm in New Hampshire if possible
(Reasoning: let's be nice to the first couple and let them campaign together for a week. Plus, Libby went over really well in South Carolina last time, so she might be able to take the 'edge' off Pataki's general New Yorker-ness.)
JAMES TODD SMITH
[X] Barnstorm. Cool J is quite charismatic, you have to be, to be a prominent musician, and he's good with crowds, another positive! He's also black. That, if nothing else, will get people's attention. (Cost: 10k Chance of Success: 80% Result: Momentum in [STATE] raised. Specify State.)
-[X] Nevada
(Reasoning: high-charisma non-politician who can grab people's attention? Let's send him to Nevada
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