EDITORIAL ACTIONS
[X] New American Century vs. Marco Rubio. This could be an important test for just how well George can do articulating points. They want the response soon to boot. You may miss out on this if you don't act now.
-[X] Tie-in to "Support Our Allies" minor plank, and the need to push back against Russian expansionism.
-[X] Release 'Support Our Allies' plank the same week that article is published.
Pataki vs. Rubio roll = 68 vs. 77. First round goes to Rubio.
New American Century vs. Marco Rubio Round 2 unlocked.
Well….that went alright. Rubio didn't blow you out of the water, which, according to Harry, was much better than he anticipated things going. George made some good points about your foreign policy plan, establishing a wall of iron for Russia to
try and push against, as well as your 'boots on the ground' approach to decapitating those crazy fuckers in the middle east.
You can't remember
which crazy fuckers, but hey, that's why you aren't the foreign policy guy.
[X] The Economist. Now there is something you didn't expect. The economist is a fairly highbrow magazine, with a strongly intellectual reader base. It's got a classically liberal tilt, and might be a good spot to make a more….economics-focused pitch.
-[X] Tie-in to "A Healthier America" minor plank, and the need to reform the US health care system in a market-friendly way
-[X] Release 'A Healthier America' plank the same week that article is published.
Roll = 97.
Crit. Strong performance. George's numbers amongst college-educated republicans go up.
Moving towards a healthier America
I don't think it is a controversial thing to say that the American system of healthcare is utterly broken. In fact, the admittance that the current system is fundamentally broken seems to be one of the only things that Democrats and Republicans can stop screaming at each other long enough to agree on.
Of course, how we go about repairing our broken, unsustainably expensive health care system has been a massive, titanic source of controversy over the decades. We've gone from support for Universal Health Care (Which would be back-breakingly expensive, and put a million Americans out of a job), to a system of enforced mandate and monopoly, such as the current system of Obamacare.
Let's not kid ourselves. Obamacare has been a non-stop calamity since introduction. From website that was outsourced to cheap Canadian labor, and subsequently broke on it's first day, and has been breaking constantly since then. To the millions of Americans who were never informed that their health plans was no longer valid, and that they would have to sign up to a new plan on the non-functioning website....
You grin to yourself as you read the article. It seems to have gone over even better than you'd hoped! You've been getting non-stop responses regarding your article. A heap of hate mail, naturally, but that's democrats for you.
Fare more interesting to you personally is the responses you get praising you for your rather passionate takedown of Obamacare, and the democratic platform based around its preservation. Especially from College Republicans who seem quite taken by you. That's definately going to be a boost in coming months! Especially financially, where you are reaping the whirlwind of the debate.
CAMPAIGN ACTIONS: Pick Two (One locked).
[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.)
Roll = 47. It's done. The office is set up, and you can now coordinate more effective (and more expensive) ad campaigns.
"Alright. You are sure everything is ready, then? Fan-fucking-tastic. I'll be there in five." You hang up the phone, Harry seemed rather pleased that your advertising department now actually had a proper part of the office to themselves, instead of sharing space with him. You said five minutes, so you'll take five minutes. Pouring out some celebratory liquor, you let the fragrance fill the room, and your head, before filling your
stomach as well.
Heading to meet Harry, he's waiting patiently, stepping into the ad-campaign office, he introduces you to the new staff, telling you you'll probably need a co-ordinator, which
will cost a fair bit, but still, just having the people around will be a big help.
[X] Stealing endorsements. You can (hopefully) start to poach more of Scott Walker and Jeb! Bush's endorsers now that they are both clearly falling apart. You might even be able to swipe some senators/congressmen!(Cost: 15k Chance of Success 55% (Jeb) 80% (Walker) Result: Endorsers stolen from Walker/Bush. You must specify your target.)
-[X] Target: Bush
Roll =
95. Bob Dole and Senator Collins want to arrange a meeting.
"Senator dole! I've got to say, when we started putting out feelers to some of Bush's supporters, we didn't expect to hear from you!" You are barely able to contain your excitement, both because Bob Dole was a great man, but also because of the prestige the former kansas senator would bring to the campaign. It would be
yuge huge. Fucking Trump, starting to infect your train of thought.
"Ah well. You know, when George talked to me about backing his son, I was pretty happy with it, but, well, I might be old, but I was up for most of that debate, and he didn't…..well, he did fairly poorly." You nod your head sagely, or at least, you think it is sagely. You probably look like a dumb, head-bobbing asshole, being alone on a phone in your office.
"Yeah, it was pretty poor. Not that I don't like Jeb, he seems like a nice enough guy and all, but….well, I don't envy the poor son of a bitch running his campaign." You really don't. He'd be twisted in knots trying to figure out where to go from here. Though, given how shittly Jeb's campaign has been run thus far, you wouldn't be too shocked to find out that his campaign manager was actually just an idiot, who wasn't worried even slightly, and just assumed he could use the hundred million Right to Rise had to blitz his way to victory. Fuckin' moron.
"Mhmm. Now, look. I don't have long before Liddy comes to bother me into taking my medications, but I want to meet George. He was pretty darn impressive on August 6th, much more than that orange thug. So, if you arrange that, call my office and we'll pencil it in. Is Thursday week good for you?" Oh
hell yes. You'd frankly been firing in the dark when your people contacted Robert, but now knowing you could net the endorsement of one of the party's grandees…..that was a satisfying feeling!
"Oh yeah, absolutely. I'll tell George the second we get off the phone. I'll have him fly down to Kansas next week, and you can meet the man wanting to put some sanity back in this damned party." You can
hear Bob nod on the other end of the line, and after a few more moments, you've got a meeting with one of the critical members of Bush's coalition. Critical-
ish.
George Pataki will meet Bob Dole in Kansas next week. -1 Pataki action next week. (Action penalty shared with Collins)
You've never much liked being in D.C. It's always struck you as kind of a shithole. Maybe it was all the damned ghettos that infested the place in the 90s. Though, looking across the river, things don't seem that much better over there. Still, it's a nice view across the potomac, as you get comfy at your table, checking your watch. Ordinarily, you'd light up right now, but DC, much like NYC, is run by liberals who think the idea of smoking in public is somehow the equivalent to murdering children. Fuckers.
You give a quick look to the menu, and jesus
christ is it expensive. Fucking senators, with their expensive taste in food. You have been patiently waiting about twenty minutes when Senator Collins finally arrives. She's apologetic, of course, apparently she had some committee meeting that she couldn't skip out on. That's admirable, at least. She's taking her job more seriously than Ruboto.
You two talk about a fair bit, and she agrees to hold a meeting with George Pataki about meeting more in-depth on Monday, so she can make a final decision about endorsing George, though based on your lunch, you'd say that things are almost certain to succeed!
Sen. Collins will meet George on Monday. -1 Pataki action next week (Action penalty shared with Dole)
Well, aside from gaining the attentions of former senator Dole, and current senator Collins, you've also poached a whole
slew of state senators, and state representatives from Jeb! Bush. He's likely fuming, but there ain't nothing he can do, he doesn't have the energy for it! SAD!
Iowa State Senators
Charles Schneider
Doug Shull (former)
You've added two Iowa State Senators to your ever growing campaign roster. Granted, one is a
former state senator, but hey. It's a start!
Iowa State Representatives
Ron Jorgensen
Robert Bacon
Zach Nunn
Linda Miller
On top of the two state senators, you've also gotten your first State Rep. Endorsements! This is going to really help you on the ground in Iowa, as you've now got some serious state infrastructure.
New Hampshire State Senators
Russell Prescott
The results coming in from New Hampshire are less exciting. One state senator joining the cause, but unlike the Iowa endorsers, this guy is actually willing to hit the stump for George in his constituency.
New Hampshire State Representatives
William Gannon
Barry Palmer
Robert Rowe
Your State Rep. haul is a bit more impressive, more in line with what you brought over from Iowa. It's kind of overshadowed by the responses you've gotten out of Nevada.
Nevada Assembly Members
Paul Anderson (Majority Leader)
John Hambrick (Speaker)
Melissa Woodbury
David M. Gardner
Philip "P.K." O'Neill
Nevada is a
big fucking haul. The majority leader of the assembly, the speaker of the assembly, and three other members. That's one
hell of a sweep! You've taken Jeb's entire assembly slate right from under him!
So all up, you've done pretty fucking well for yourself! Especially in Nevada, where you are fairly sure, when you combine this, and the probable support from the (unrelated) Laxalt clan, you might actually straight up sweep the state.
RESEARCH TEAM Pick One. (One locked)
[X] Harry's debate post-mortem. While you can bother Nate about it over poker, having his (ex) employee give his own take would probably be a good idea as well. (Cost: 5k. Chance of Success: Automatic. Result: Harry will give you an in-depth post mortem of each candidate, including who poses a threat, and who doesn't. FREE ACTION)
Roll = 76. Harry gives you his
own take on the debate results. No expensive alcohol required!
"So, all up, what do you think?" You are busy pouring yourself your mid-day drink when Harry walks into your office, holding a folder. He puts it onto the desk, and sits down, looking altogether far too pleased with himself for your liking.
"All up? I think we did pretty good up there, Peter. Not perfect, but pretty damn good. I won't waste your time trying to go super in depth into every candidate, because after you cleaned out Nate, I'm fairly sure he's given you something much more in-depth than I can give." You scowl a bit at that, more so than you usually scowl at least. You
pay this fucker to give you in-depth opinions based on the polls! The fuck is the point of him elsewise?
You are about to talk when Harry interrupts you, leaving you fuming and reaching for your pocket cigar. "
However unlike him, I have access to up to date state polling, and believe me. You are going to
like what you read." You keep scowling, small, pocket cigar fixing itself to the side of your mouth. You strike a match and light up, smoke filling your lungs and calming you down to your 'normal' level of raging asshole, instead of 'aggressive' levels of raging asshole.
You snatch the folder from the desk, not wanting to look at Harry's shit-eating grin he always seems to get whenever he thinks he's done his actual
job.
And then you read it, and you get the biggest,
biggest shit eating grin that your goddamn cigar nearly drops from your mouth.
Private Poll IA
Sample Size: 350
|
Question Asked: Who do you believe was the winner of the August 6th Primary Debate?
|
Ted Cruz 23.3%
|
Marco Rubio
14.4%
|
Chris Christie
12.1%
|
George Pataki
10.5%
|
Lindsey Graham
8.3%
|
Private Poll NH
Sample size: 422
|
Question Asked: Who do you believe was the winner of the August 6th Primary Debate?
|
George Pataki 30%
|
Marco Rubio 24.2%
|
Ted Cruz 22.1%
|
John Kasich 13.1%
|
Other*
10.6%
|
*Harry's Note. Christie was pushed into fifth for this one, with 6.1% believing he was the winner.
Private Poll SC
Sample size: 535
|
Question Asked: Who do you believe was the winner of the August 6th Primary Debates?
|
Lindsey Graham
36%
|
Marco Rubio 21%
|
Ted Cruz 19%
|
Chris Christie 10%
|
George Pataki
9%
|
Other 6%
|
Private Poll NV
Sample
size: 535
|
Question Asked: Who do you believe was the winner of the August 6th Primary Debates?
|
Marco Rubio
32%
|
Ted Cruz 30%
|
George Pataki
14%
|
Chris Christie 10%
|
None of these Candidates*
3%
|
Other 6%
|
*Harry's note. None of these Candidates is something of a running joke in Nevada politics.
I mean, that Iowa result isn't the best, but hell. You'll live! You
won most people over in New Hampshire, and
way more people thought you did when compared to Kasich, even if he
is worryingly high. Harry cuts in again.
"I can't be sure, but based on what I'm hearing from the State HQ in Manchester, we've blunted Kasich's upward surge. Not
stopped it, but blunted it. If he hasn't increased in the polls by any more than maybe 2-3 points, we'll know we are in the clear." You look at him funny. You aren't some kind of memory wizard or nothing, but you are
pretty sure a three point boost would put Kasich right on your ass.
"I mean, shit boss. We are tied with Trump in a Quinnipiac poll released yesterday. I wouldn't read
too much into that, because of post-debate noise, but still. We will hopefully get a five to seven point kick up the ass, enough to nullify any boost trump has gotten, and to keep Kasich at a safe distance." That's pretty damned good news. The Iowa poll worries you as well, as looking at it again, Teddy is way out front of you, Rubio and Christie. Hell,
Lindsey is closer to surpassing you, than you are to hitting Cruz.
[X] Find an office leader. You could get Harry to do this, he might have an idea or something similar. Hopefully, at least. (Cost: 30k Chance of Success: 90% Result: A new organizer for the A-list is found)
Roll = 34. An office leader is found. You swiped them from the Bush campaign. It's pocket-protector guy!
"So...can you run your qualifications by me again Mr….Diammetra." He nods, looking vaguely familiar as he awkwardly shifts in the seat across your huge, oak desk. You can't quite place it, but you feel like you know him from somewhere.
"Well...ah...mmm. I was the regional coordinator for Jeb Bush, I coordinated the state teams so that we could distribute resources as ne-" You shoot up in your seat, cigar clenched between two fingers as you finally figure out where you know him from!
"Pocket protector guy! What the
hell are you doing in my office?!" He recoils at your sudden yelling, you've gone a bit red in the face from the shock of seeing this fucker again. You can feel a vein pop on your neck as you yell.
"I-I-I….um...I heardyouwerelookingforstaffpleasedonteatme!" You stare him down as he babbles like a small child, actually curling up a bit in his chair. Jesus Christ. He makes you seriously consider not hiring him, cowering like that, before he slowly uncurls.
"I...uh. Sorry about that. You are just….quite frightening, is all." You slump back into your seat, puffing slowly on your cigar, feeling the smoke flow through you. "Um….excuse me sir. Isn't it illegal to smoke indoors in New York?" You glower at him, pressing your intercom button.
"Jeanie! Get Palmer in here. I need to educate our new hire." She sighs, not even bothering to correct you. She knows, that you know, and she knows that you don't care. Parker walks into you office, clearly a little bit afraid of you still.
"Palmer! Tell our new hire what I think about this city's bullshit anti-smoking ordinance." You slice the cap off a fresh cigar, lighting it up as Palmer nods.
"Mr. Laxalt doesn't believe in...uh..Mayor De Blasio's total smoking ban." You point your cigar at Parker, exhaling a plume of smoke right into Ralph's face. You love your cigars, almost as much as you love your whiskey. You let the potent aroma fill the room, causing Parker to cough, and the ex-Bush staffer to go a bright red and start coughing.
"That's goddamn right. I'm a one man protest movement." You place the cigar calmly in your desk ashtray. "Now, if you work for me, I expect
absolute loyalty. You can back talk. You can do dumb shit, but you try and screw me, and I'll have your ass strung up from the fucking Stratosphere tower. Clear?" You lean in nice and close, making sure you and your new hire have a good understanding of one another, as Parker awkwardly hangs back, not wanting to interrupt you doing your job. He tilts his head, confused.
"Th-the uh....the Stratosphere tower? W-what's that?" You sigh, shaking your head. Of course this dumb bastard doesn't know the Stratosphere tower. The biggest fucking building in vegas. You bet this dumb son of a bitch hasn't even
been to Vegas.
"It's a really fuckin' tall building. Fuck with me, and I'll hang you with one of the fuckin' bungee cables. We clear?" He blanches at the though, and immediately nods his head, which gets you to grin almost as broadly as you'd done when Harry first brought you the post-debate good news!
"Fuckin' A! Palmerston, go grab something good from my bar fridge, and then get Harry. If he ain't busy, I want him to congratulate our new hire." Parker sighs, long resigned to you never calling him by his name, grabbing an ice cold bottle of Scotch, before going to grab Harry and Jeanie. You pour the glasses personally, and soon you've gotten to know your new hire, Ralph Diammetra, much better, and soon you've got him set up in his own office. Granted, he's passed out because he's a lightweight, but hey. He'll have a pleasant wake up!
RALPH DIAMMETRA HIRED TO HEAD 'A-LIST' PROJECT
[X] Expanding surveillance. Harry is apoplectic about last week's fuck up. Splitting his time screaming at his interns, and apologising to you. which makes you feel a little better, but has also made you realise, of course he's fucking up. You need some proper spying infrastructure! To get this kind of shit off the ground, though, would bite into your cash reserves a bit. It'd also take time. (Cost: 18k per turn until completed. 6k once completed. Time: 3 turns. Result: Research stat raised to 3. Harry will have an easier time coordinating spying and subterfuge)
Roll = 40. It's
done. Harry is a happy man, and he says that op-research is back on the table.
GOT NEW EQUIPMENT SET UP, THANKS FOR PATIENTCE
Goddamn it, Harry is a smart guy but he's either fucking with you, or he still can't figure out he isn't supposed to put the fucking title in all caps. Jesus. At least he's happy with the new setup. And from the email, you can
finally start running oppo research once more!
Hopefully it goes better than last ti-.....
Did he misspell patience? That
dense motherfuck-
OP-RESEARCH IS NOW UNLOCKED. AGAIN.
The A-List (-1 Research action until a new office leader can be found.)
Well, Ralph seems to have taken to your office drinking habits like a fly to shit. He's already got a small bar-fridge of his own, stocked with crappy beers, but that's because you secretly suspect he's a homosexual like your brother. Always drinking their light weight beers, and doing their
dancing and putting all that product in their hair.
Madness.
PATAKI ACTIONS (Pick 2)
[X] Meet the man himself. Two weeks ago you'd have been confident meeting with John, but now? Less so. Kasich had a lackluster debate, and now might be the perfect time to prey on his insecurities, possibly laying down a framework for his (inevitable) withdrawal once you crush him in NH. Even if that never comes to pass setting up a Non-Aggression pact so you can focus on the much greater threat of Rubio, Christie and Trump might be good, if he agrees to it. (Cost: 5-15k Chance of Success: Unknown (Moderate-High) Result: Non-Aggression pact with Kasich.)
Roll = 88. Kasich agrees to a non-aggression pact, with just a smidgen of information sharing on the side.
You are kind of dreading this moment. Kasich has a….reputation. As a man that is quite painful to work with. Hell, he managed to piss off a donor so bad during his re-election campaign that the man swore to never give him even a single penny as long as he lived.
Hell, before you even meet the man, you are on the goddamn phone with Kasich's campaign manager telling you to 'not take it personally if Kasich berates either of you'. Fuck to that,
nobody insults Peter P. Laxalt! No-one!
The meeting goes better than you'd anticipated, though. You leave with an agreement to refrain from attacking one another, and to share any critical information you come across, such as the next WEDCgate scandal, if such a thing materialises, of course.
KASICH NON-AGGRESSION PACT NOW ACTIVE. YOU CAN NO LONGER TARGET JOHN KASICH OR AFFILIATED PERSONS.
[X] Prepare a speech. You know what fires up a crowd? A good speech. You aren't super strong in Ohio, but a good speech could help change that! A really good speech could help you out on debate day, or cripple your opponents going on the stage. Rubbing salt in the wound in Walker's case. (Pick topic of speech, It will be delivered in Ohio. Cost: 25k Chance of Success: Varies by state/topic. Result: Momentum greatly increased in Ohio NOTE: SPEECHES CAN BE USED TO ATTACK CANDIDATES)
-[X] Theme: the pledge. Double-down on why we won't sign it, and explain why it's not just #WickedWalker, but also @RealDonaldTrump that is unacceptably corrupt. Specifically emphasize Trump bragging about friendship with Hillary in the debate, and bragging about how he used his money to score personal and political favors from Democrats....
Roll =
98. Pataki
crushes Trump and Walker. 'I'll tell you what, for a guy who talks about hating the American establishment, Donald Trump sure spends a lot of time at Dinner parties with it!'
The stage is set. The lightening goes up, and to the cheers of the crowd, George Pataki takes the stage, waving to the huge throng of supporters who've turned out to wish him well, and listen to him speak, in a ram-packed stadium in Cleveland Ohio.
"Hello! Hello, everyone. It's great to see such a huge crowd!" Pataki continues to wave as a people cheer his name. The chant of 'pataki' is somewhat overwhelming, even for the news cameras present.
"So, there's been a lot of buzz in the news cycle the past few days about me refusing to sell my principles out to Mitch McConnell and the
Reince of Darkness, and sign their pledge to back whoever wins the primary. Well, I'll tell you all what." There are loud boos as McConnell's name is mentioned, and laughter about the Prince of Darkness himself, Reince Priebus is mocked.
"I haven't changed my mind one bit. Not. One. Bit. I can't support someone like Scott Walker. Who's willing to sell off appointments for cash! And I'll tell you what else? I can't support Donald Trump! They are the same thing. Corrupt Washington insiders who's idea of governance consists of taking kickbacks and then giving those
friends kickbacks! Let's not forget about how
happy Donald Trump was when Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State. She'd be the 'best ever' secretary. Because he knew her, and they were friends!
Friends!"
The crowd boos that heavily, clearly on Pataki's side, and not on Trump's. The News cameras are eating it up, and as you watch the reporter report rapid fire on what Pataki is saying, you can't help but get that oh so familiar shit-eating grin on your face. Feels fuckin good!
SUPERPAC ROLLS
People before Politics PAC roll = 26. Still gearing! Additional +5 to A-list rolls next turn.
African-Americans for a Better America roll = 70. False infiltration alarm, gearing for A-List launch. +20 to A-list rolls next turn.
FUNDRAISING ROLL
Roll = 46 + 135 / 2 = 113.5k raised.
Those fucking foam fingers are selling like they are free! Why? You don't fucking know. It's just a foam finger with PATAKI #1 on it for Christ's sake! Who buys shit like that?!
