Swing States 2012

About this board game

Swing States 2012 is a solitaire election strategy game for one player, with a play time of about 40 minutes. You become a political strategist working to win the U.S. presidential election for either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party.

Each game turn represents approximately half a week of real time, covering the period between the parties’ nominating conventions in late summer and the general election in early November. Your decisions shape how the campaign uses its limited time and resources during this decisive stretch.

Fund-raising and expenditures are central to your campaign plan. You must determine where to campaign, where to advertise, and when to deploy the nominees and vital surrogates.

• Choose how much time to devote to fund-raising.
• Prepare for debates and conduct opposition research.
• Decide where candidates and surrogates should appear.
• Respond to scandals that can emerge unexpectedly.

Swing States 2012 focuses on the strategic pressures of a modern presidential campaign rather than simply counting votes. Every choice asks you to weigh competing priorities as Election Day approaches, from building funds to making the most of appearances and preparation.

Designed specifically for solo play, the game has a listed complexity of 4 on a 9-point scale and a solitaire suitability rating of 9 out of 9. If you enjoy political strategy, resource decisions, and election-themed simulations, take the role of campaign strategist and work to deliver the presidency for your chosen party.