4 More Years for Bush

Democrats still had high hopes at the end of a long election night on November 2nd, but in the final hours, the Republicans claimed victory when Kerry called Bush and conceded defeat. Both leaders spoke in soothing and conciliatory terms. Bush told those who did not vote for him: "I will need your support and I will work to earn it." A defeated Kerry was emotional during his farewell speech in Boston. Kerry said he will continue to fight for what he believes in, but urged that his supporters understand how important it is for the nation to overcome "partisan division" for the sake of America.

Bush won support from 51 percent of the voters with 58.5 million votes. Kerry received 55 million votes at 48 percent. The Independent candidate, Ralph Nader, received only 391,000 votes representing less than one percent. With Kerry’s concession speech, a repeat of the controversy over the 2000 elections in Florida was avoided. Although there are nearly 150,000 uncounted votes, they are not expected to be able to change the outcome. Bush reached 274 Electoral College votes including the Ohio electoral votes. Kerry won only 252. In Iowa and New Mexico, where the results are not yet final, Bush is in the lead.

The White House claimed victory for Bush hours before Kerry’s concession, but Bush did not come forward to make a victory speech out of respect for Kerry and his supporters. Instead, Chief of Staff at the White House, Andrew Card, came to the podium in the early morning hours yesterday at the Ronald Reagan Center proclaiming victory by the President and said Bush would make an announcement in the following hours.

The Democratic front did not accept defeat at first as they held onto the possibility that the Ohio results will be in their favor. Kerry met with his aides and discussed whether or not to continue to fight in Ohio, but when Bush’s lead became insurmountable, Kerry announced his defeat.