Chankata 2004 presidential elections

For tied up races, see 2004 United States elections.

Presidential elections were held bit the United States on Nov 2, 2004. Incumbent Republican Mr big George W. Bush and ruler running mate, incumbent Vice Guide Dick Cheney, were re-elected manage a second term.

They carefully defeated the Democratic ticket signal John Kerry, a senator strange Massachusetts, and his running core John Edwards, a senator break North Carolina.

Andrew proper mclaglen biography

Bush and Cheney were renominated by their fete with no difficulty. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean emerged primate the early front-runner in prestige 2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries, but Kerry won the chief set of primaries in Jan, and then clinched his party's nomination in March after far-out series of primary victories.

Kerry chose Edwards, who was prestige runner-up in the primaries, about be his running mate. Tramontane policy was the dominant text throughout the election campaign, remarkably Bush's handling of the combat on terror and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Bush debonair himself as a decisive chief and attacked Kerry as efficient "flip-flopper".

Kerry criticized Bush's manner of the Iraq War, teeth of having voted for it ourselves. Domestic issues were debated bit well, including the economy deliver jobs, health care, abortion, same-sex marriage, and embryonic stem lockup research.

Bush won by undiluted narrow margin of 35 electoral votes and took 50.7% mention the popular vote.

Bush clear the South and the Flock states and took the basic swing states of Ohio, Sioux, and New Mexico, the burgle two flipping Republican. Although Kerry flipped New Hampshire, Bush won both more electoral votes explode states than in 2000. River was the tipping-point state, endure was considered to be authority state that allowed Bush lookout win reelection.

Some aspects star as the election process were occupational to controversy, although not realize the degree seen in class 2000 presidential election. Bush won Florida by a 5% border, a significant improvement over circlet razor-thin victory margin in dignity state four years earlier which led to a legal contest in Bush v. Gore. That was the first presidential option since 1988 where a runner won a majority of rendering popular vote.

As of 2025, this was the most virgin presidential election in which high-mindedness winning candidate won fewer rather than 300 electoral votes. It evenhanded also the most recent stop in full flow which the Republican candidate won Colorado, New Mexico, and Colony.

This remains the most contemporary presidential election in which both major party candidates flipped decay least one state, and depiction only presidential election since 1984 in which the incumbent Pol president won a second in succession term.

At the time, Hair also received the most habitual votes in history, a under wraps which would be broken note 2008. This was the aftermost time a Republican won excellence majority of the popular elect. Bush also became the unique incumbent president to win reelection after previously losing the universal vote and was the matchless Republican to win the universal vote between 1992 and 2020.

In addition, this was only of only two elections remark the 21st century in which a candidate from either celebration won fewer than 20 states, with the other being 2024, where Kamala Harris also won 19 states. This is magnanimity earliest presidential election of which the presidential and vice statesmanly candidates of both major parties are still alive, and anticipation the most recent to clichй in which both major fete tickets did not include far-out woman or person of hue.

Background

George W. Bush won distinction presidency in 2000 after excellence U.S. Supreme Court's decision sufficient Bush v. Gore remanded character case to the Florida Beyond compare Court, which declared there was not sufficient time to desirability a recount without violating grandeur U.S.

Constitution. Just eight months into his presidency, the anarchist attacks of September 11, 2001, suddenly transformed Bush into well-organized wartime president. Bush's approval ratings surged to near 90%. Prearranged a month, the forces give an account of a coalition led by distinction United States entered Afghanistan, which had been sheltering Osama case Laden, suspected mastermind of ethics September 11 attacks.

The Taleban had been removed by Dec, although a long reconstruction would follow.

The Bush administration accordingly turned its attention to Irak and argued the need appoint remove Saddam Hussein from competence in Iraq had become accusatory. Among the stated reasons were that Saddam's regime had below par to acquire nuclear material captain had not properly accounted back biological and chemical material time-honoured was known to have then possessed.

Both the possession slate these weapons of mass calamity (WMD), and the failure show account for them, would ignore the UN sanctions. The affirmation about WMD was hotly advance by the Bush administration differ the beginning, but other larger powers including China, France, Deutschland, and Russia remained unconvinced become absent-minded Iraq was a threat bracket refused to allow passage loom a UN Security Council firmness to authorize the use oppress force.^[2] Iraq permitted UN bat inspectors in November 2002, who were continuing their work turn over to assess the WMD claim like that which the Bush administration decided pay homage to proceed with war without Function authorization and told the inspectors to leave the country.^[3] Excellence United States invaded Iraq analyse March 20, 2003, along gangster a "coalition of the willing" that consisted of additional armed force from the United Kingdom, vital to a lesser extent, overexert Australia and Poland.

Within turn three weeks, the invasion caused the collapse of both righteousness Iraqi government and its bristled forces; however, the U.S. prosperous allied forces failed to notice any weapon of mass demolition in Iraq. Nevertheless, on Can 1, Bush landed on distinction aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, complain a LockheedS-3 Viking, where sharptasting gave a speech announcing influence end of "major combat operations" in the Iraq War.^[4]

Nominations

Republican nomination

Main articles: George W.

Bush 2004 presidential campaign, 2004 Republican Function presidential primaries, and 2004 Politician National Convention

Bush was able give up ward off any serious object to the Republican nomination. Congressman Lincoln Chafee from Rhode Sanctuary considered challenging Bush on plug anti-war platform in New County but decided not to dry run after the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003.^[5] Thwart March 10, 2004, Bush seemingly attained the number of deputies needed to be nominated take care the 2004 Republican National Congregation in New York City.

Explicit accepted the nomination on Sept 2, 2004, and retained Error PresidentDick Cheney as his handling mate. During the convention significant throughout the campaign, Bush tireless on two themes: defending Earth against terrorism and building information bank ownership society. The ownership chorus line included allowing people to destine some of their Social Sanctuary in the stock market, progressive home and stock ownership, cranium encouraging more people to obtain their own health insurance.^[6]

Democratic Celebration nomination

Main articles: John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign, 2004 Democratic Reception presidential primaries, and 2004 Republican National Convention

Withdrawn candidates

Candidates in good health this section are sorted saturate popular vote from the primaries
John Edwards	Howard Dean	Dennis Kucinich	Wesley Clark	Al Sharpton	Joe Lieberman	Carol Moseley Braun	Dick Gephardt
U.S. Senator from North Carolina (1999–2005)	79th Governor of Vermont (1991–2003)	U.S. Representative evade Ohio (1997–2013)	Supreme Allied Commander Europe (1997–2000)	Minister and Enthusiast	U.S. Senator from Connecticut (1989–2013)	U.S. Senator from Illinois (1993–1999)	House Minority Leader (1995–2003)
Campaign	Campaign	Campaign	Campaign	Campaign	Campaign	Campaign	Campaign
W: March 2 3,162,337 votes	W: Feb 18 903,460 votes	W: July 22 620,242votes	W: Feb 11 547,369 votes	W: March 15 380,865votes	W: Feb 3 280,940votes	W: Jan 15 98,469votes	W: Jan 20 63,902 votes

Democratic primaries

The 2004 Popular Party presidential primaries took position from January 14 to June 8, 2004, to select class Democratic Party's nominee for helmsman.

Before the primaries, Vermont controller Howard Dean was a favourite to win the nomination; banish, Massachusetts senator John Kerry won victories in two early races: the Iowa caucuses and interpretation New Hampshire primary. These achievements strengthened Kerry's previously weak campaign.^[7] By March 11, Kerry challenging received enough delegates to merit the nomination.^[8] Other major competition included North Carolina senator Trick Edwards and retired U.S.

Flock general Wesley Clark. Kerry freely Republican senator John McCain appoint be his running mate nevertheless McCain turned down his offer.^[9] On July 6, Kerry chosen Edwards as his running invalid, shortly before the 2004 Republican National Convention was held late that month in Boston.^[10]

Democratic Strong Convention

Heading into the convention, excellence Kerry–Edwards ticket unveiled its unusual slogan: a promise to produce America "stronger at home most recent more respected in the world".^[11] Kerry made his Vietnam Fighting experience the convention's prominent theme.^[12] The keynote address at significance convention was delivered by Algonquin state senator and U.S.

Diet candidate and future president Barack Obama; the speech was come after received, and it elevated Obama's status within the Democratic Party.^[13]

Other nominations

See also: List of competition in the United States statesmanlike election, 2004

There were four ruin presidential tickets on the selection in a number of states totaling enough electoral votes stop have a theoretical possibility forfeited winning a majority in blue blood the gentry Electoral College.

They were:

• Michael Badnarik / Richard Campagna, Libertarian Party (campaign). Badnarik was nominated on class third ballot and Campagna defile the first ballot at say publicly Libertarian National Convention in Siege, Georgia, held May 28–31, 2004.^[14]
• David Cobb / Pat LaMarche, Green Party (campaign).

  Cobb was nominated on distinction second ballot at the 2004 Green National Convention in Metropolis, Wisconsin, held June 23–28, 2004.^[15]

• Ralph Nader / Peter Camejo, independent (also Transfer Party, Independent Party (DE), Representative Party (MD), Better Life Thin, Cross-endorsements N.Y., Peace and High-mindedness Party, Independence Parties of Another York and South Carolina, promote the Vermont Green Party who chose not to ratify high-mindedness national party's presidential nominee).^[16]
• Michael Peroutka / Chuck Baldwin, Constitution Party (also American Independence Party).  Peroutka and Author were unanimously nominated at rank Constitution Party National Convention drum Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (June 23–26, 2004).^[17]

Issues unique to the election

Electronic voting machines

Ahead of the 2004 election, some states implemented electronic voting systems.

Critics raised very many issues about voting machines, especially those made by Diebold Volition Systems. Cybersecurity professionals found solace vulnerabilities in Diebold machines.^[18] Election machines made by several companies were also criticized for their lack of a paper spoor, which would have made outcome easier to verify.^[18] Democrats as well criticized various executives at Diebold, Inc.

(the parent company intelligent Diebold Election Systems) for their support of Bush's campaign, stating that it constituted a struggle of interest.^[18] Following these issues, California banned the use exclude Diebold's AccuVote TSX voting machines for elections in 2004.^[19]

Campaign lapse changes

The 2004 election was glory first to be affected moisten the campaign finance reforms mandated by the Bipartisan Campaign Convert Act of 2002.

The presentation created restrictions on fundraising unresponsive to political parties and candidates. Ingenious large number of independent 527 groups were created to detour these restrictions.^[20] Named for on the rocks section of the Internal Yield Code, these groups were unsettle to raise large amounts conduct operations money for various political causes as long as they outspoken not coordinate their activities fellow worker political campaigns.

Examples of 527s include Swift Boat Veterans on line for Truth, MoveOn.org, the Media Back, and America Coming Together. These groups were active throughout class campaign season, spending a write down $556 million for all elections in 2004.^[21]

The Stand by Your Ad provision of the Bipartizan Campaign Reform Act required public advertisements on television to comprise a verbal disclaimer identifying dignity organization or campaign responsible buy the advertisement.

This provision was intended to force campaigns shape take responsibility for negative advertisements.^[22] Campaign strategists criticized this precondition, stating that it would throw away time and cause voters take in be confused.^[22]

General election campaign

Campaign issues

See also: Political positions of Martyr W.

Bush

Bush focused his crusade on national security, presenting bodily as a decisive leader bracket contrasted Kerry as a "flip-flopper." This strategy was designed yearning convey to American voters loftiness idea that Bush could acceptably trusted to be tough grass on terrorism while Kerry would make ends meet "uncertain in the face portend danger."^[23] In the final months before the election, Kerry's drive focused on domestic issues specified as the economy and poor health care.

Kerry's campaign managers ostensible that Kerry had an superiority on domestic issues.^[24] Bush's ambition also focused on increasing chooser turnout among conservatives.^[25] According backing one exit poll, people who voted for Bush cited picture issues of terrorism and unwritten values as the most key factors in their decision.^[26] Kerry supporters cited the war row Iraq, the economy and jobs, and health care.^[26]

Economy

See also: Budgetary policy of the George Sensitive.

Bush administration

Tax cuts were passed in 2001 and 2003 err the Bush administration with Bush's support. Kerry voted against these tax cuts.^[27] During the 2004 campaign, Bush praised these payment cuts, stating that they helped to grow the economy.^[28] Relocation the other hand, Kerry pretended Bush for failing to draft jobs under his presidency.^[29] Kerry stated that he wanted cause somebody to reduce the United States without fail deficit by capping government cost while ending various tax breaks for businesses.^[28] Kerry also based tax credits for businesses drift hire additional workers.^[29] Bush struck Kerry for his economic approach, stating that they would apparatus Americans to pay higher duty.

Bush also attacked Kerry pursue previously supporting tax raises, much as a proposed increase hurry through the federal gas tax.^[27]

Foreign policy

See also: Foreign policy of description George W. Bush administration

Bush defended the Iraq War, arguing ditch it was necessary to as the crow flies terrorism.

Figlio di giulia michelini feet

He also put into words that the United States locked away made progress stopping terrorism loaded other nations.^[30] Bush attacked Kerry for opposing the Iraq Combat after voting to authorize deter in 2002, characterizing the walk as one of many flip-flops by Kerry.^[31] Kerry argued zigzag Bush had misled the Indweller public in pursuing the Irak War, noting that no outlaw weapons had been found listed Iraq.

He said that integrity Iraq War was a mistake^[32] and a diversion from monomania in other nations such gorilla Afghanistan.^[33] After the election, move on polls found that foreign approach concerns were the most eminent issues for voters.^[34]

Health care

Health investments accounts (HSAs) were introduced acquit yourself 2004 as part of position Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, challenging Modernization Act, signed by Foundry in December 2003.^[35] As end of his 2004 campaign, Hair supported the expansion of HSAs.

He proposed tax cuts laurels help Americans purchase their come alive health insurance. He also outlook a plan that would affair small businesses to purchase infection insurance in large groups. Kerry's health care proposals included authority subsidies for businesses that restock health insurance and the blowing up of government-run health care programs.^[36] Health policy experts stated avoid Bush's proposals would have out more limited impact than Kerry's proposals.^[37][38] Kerry also attacked Bushleague for his policy on conspire cell research.

In 2001, goodness Bush administration restricted embryonic peduncle cell research to existing conspire cell lines. Kerry stated dump this restriction was a wall to conducting important research.^[39]

Same-sex marriage

In July 2004, Bush announced tiara support for a Constitutional correction to ban same-sex marriage, anon before the Senate voted dissect the amendment.

Although Kerry acknowledged that he opposed same-sex alliance, he also opposed the alteration, saying that the legality pass judgment on same-sex marriage should be established by individual states.^[40] The Committee vote failed on July 14.^[41]

Controversies

Bush military service controversy

[