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The Presidential Election of 2004 Essay

Decent Essays

Analyze the Presidential election of 2004. What happened and why?
Analyze the changing nature of the media and how that is affecting politics.

The two questions identified above cannot be adequately answered alone without one influencing the other because a campaign that influences the election of the most powerful position in the world is a public event. However, after months of predictions of a too-close-to-call contest, Bush won nationwide balloting making him the 15th president elected to a second term and the first to win both a majority of the popular vote and the Electoral College since his father in 1988. The GOP also extended its majorities in the House and Senate.

The Presidential election followed a political campaign …show more content…

Those who opposed the president did so because of his decision to go to war in Iraq and how it was carried out and their nervousness about the economy. As it turned out Kerry's vote was anti-Bush, it wasn't pro-Kerry.

Voter turnout hit record highs nationally, and the total for Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney was higher than any previous presidential ticket. Some of the greatest percentage gains over 2000 came in 13 states that were the battleground in the presidential election. Millions of dollars were spent on TV ads and voter mobilization. Interestingly, Democratic strategists had predicted that turnout at those levels would assure victory. But Democratic voter drives were matched in large part by Republicans, particularly religious conservatives.

Voters conveyed a sense of urgency about Iraq, and their top priority for President Bush to tackle after his re-election. Iraq was followed by terrorism among voters' leading concerns. Voters also conveyed they want the President to cut the deficit and balance the budget rather than reducing taxes.

After a campaign dominated by discussion of Iraq and terrorism, national security issues were at the top of voters' concerns along with the economy. Many voters indicated through their votes they were also concerned about "moral values". This election confirmed that we are a divided nation, not only politically, but in terms of our interpretation of religion. The

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