fantasy presidential election....

Anyone who wants to live out their fantasies of leading John Kerry or indeed Dubya (or, um, whoever you want really) to a thumping victory this "fall" can use the magic of the Commodore 64 to do so here: http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=839 - this is a fascinating and quite tricky game (I managed to steer Reagan to defeat at the hands of Mondale early in my career, and the Nixon-Kennedy race is a real nailbiter no matter how you play it) - and for the 1988 election you can enter your own candidates and circumstances (remember the BUSH in the game is the elder one, so you have to configure GW) and let them at it, or alternatively manage the campaign strategy in a more hands on basis.

Back in the day there were loads of political/economic computer games, a quick browse through the site reveals, including one where you can be Gorbachev or Yeltsin ("Crisis in the Kremlin") and one intended to raise awareness of the plight of central american countries ("Hidden Agenda") as well as http://www.the-underdogs.org/game.php?id=457