View source for 2004 United States presidential election

{{short description|55th quadrennial U.S. presidential election}}
{{for|related races|2004 United States elections}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2004 United States presidential election
| country = United States
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| opinion_polls = Statewide opinion polling for the 2004 United States presidential election
| previous_election = 2000 United States presidential election
| previous_year = 2000
| election_date = November 2, 2004
| next_election = 2008 United States presidential election
| next_year = 2008
| votes_for_election = 538 members of the [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]]
| needed_votes = 270 electoral
| turnout = 60.1%<ref>{{Cite web |title=National General Election VEP Turnout Rates, 1789-Present |url=https://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725110444/http://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present |archive-date=July 25, 2014 |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=United States Election Project |publisher=[[CQ Press]]}}</ref> {{increase}} 5.9 [[percentage point|pp]]
| image_size = x200px
| image1 = George-W-Bush.jpeg
| nominee1 = '''[[George W. Bush]]'''
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| home_state1 = [[Texas]]
| running_mate1 = '''[[Dick Cheney]]'''
| electoral_vote1 = '''286'''
| states_carried1 = '''31'''
| popular_vote1 = '''62,040,610'''
| percentage1 = '''{{percent|<!-- BUSH: --> 62,040,610|<!-- TOTAL: --> 122,295,345|1|pad=yes}}'''
| image2 = File:John F. Kerry.jpg
| nominee2 = [[John Kerry]]
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| home_state2 = [[Massachusetts]]
| running_mate2 = [[John Edwards]]
| electoral_vote2 = 251{{efn|One Minnesota elector voted for Edwards for both president and vice president.}}
| states_carried2 = 19 + [[Washington, D.C.|DC]]
| popular_vote2 = 59,028,444
| percentage2 = {{percent|<!-- KERRY: --> 59,028,444|<!-- TOTAL: --> 122,295,345|1|pad=yes}}
| map_size = 350px
| map = {{2004 United States presidential election imagemap}}
| map_caption = Presidential election results map. <span style="color:darkred;">Red</span> denotes states won by Bush/Cheney and <span style="color:darkblue;">blue</span> denotes those won by Kerry/Edwards. <span style="color:#BBCFEC;">Light blue</span> is the electoral vote for John Edwards by a Minnesota [[faithless elector]]. Numbers indicate [[electoral votes]] cast by each state and the District of Columbia.
| title = President
| before_election = [[George W. Bush]]
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = [[George W. Bush]]
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
[[United States presidential election|Presidential elections]] were held in the [[United States]] on November 2, 2004.  Incumbent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] President [[George W. Bush]] and his [[running mate]], incumbent Vice President [[Dick Cheney]], were re-elected to a second term. They narrowly defeated the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] ticket of [[John Kerry]], a [[United States Senate|senator]] from [[Massachusetts]], and his running mate [[John Edwards]], a senator from [[North Carolina]].

Bush and Cheney were renominated by their party with no difficulty. Former [[Vermont]] governor [[Howard Dean]] emerged as the early front-runner in the [[2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries]], but Kerry won the first set of primaries in January, and then clinched his party's nomination in March after a series of primary victories. Kerry chose Edwards, who was the runner-up in the primaries, to be his running mate. [[Foreign policy]] was the dominant theme throughout the election campaign, particularly Bush's handling of the [[war on terror]] and the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. Bush presented himself as a decisive leader and attacked Kerry as a "[[Flip-flop (politics)|flip-flopper]]". Kerry criticized Bush's conduct of the [[Iraq War]], despite having [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002|voted for it]] himself. Domestic issues were debated as well, including [[Early 2000s recession|the economy]] and jobs, [[Healthcare in the United States|health care]], [[Abortion in the United States|abortion]], [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]], and [[embryonic stem cell]] research.

Bush won by a narrow margin of 35 [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral votes]] and took 50.7% of the popular vote. Bush swept [[Southern United States|the South]] and the [[mountain states]] and took the crucial [[swing state]]s of [[2004 United States presidential election in Ohio|Ohio]], [[2004 United States presidential election in Iowa|Iowa]], and [[2004 United States presidential election in New Mexico|New Mexico]], the last two flipping Republican. Although Kerry flipped [[2004 United States presidential election in New Hampshire|New Hampshire]], Bush won both more electoral votes and states than in 2000. Ohio was the [[tipping-point state]], and was considered to be the state that allowed Bush to win reelection. Some aspects of the election process were [[2004 United States election voting controversies|subject to controversy]], although not to the degree seen in the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]]. Bush won [[2004 United States presidential election in Florida|Florida]] by a five-percent margin, a significant improvement over his razor-thin victory margin in the state four years earlier which led to a legal challenge in ''[[Bush v. Gore]]''. This was the first presidential election since [[1988 United States presidential election|1988]] where the Republican nominee won the [[Direct election|popular vote]]. As of [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]], this was the most recent presidential election in which the winning candidate won fewer than 300 electoral votes. It is also the most recent in which the Republican candidate won [[Colorado]], [[New Mexico]], or [[Virginia]].

This remains the most recent presidential election in which both major party candidates flipped at least one state and the only presidential election since [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]] in which the incumbent Republican president won a second consecutive term. At the time, Bush also received the most popular votes in history, a record which would be broken in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]]. Bush also became the only incumbent president to win reelection after previously losing the popular vote. This is also the last time that a male Democratic presidential candidate lost an election, as well as the only election between [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]] and [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]] where a Republican won the national popular vote. In addition, this was also the most recent presidential election where a candidate from either party would win fewer than 20 states, until the Democratic candidate [[Kamala Harris]] (like John Kerry) was held to winning only 19 in [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]. This was also the last presidential election in which the winning ticket did not have either [[Joe Biden]] or [[Donald Trump]] on it.

== Background ==
[[George W. Bush]] won the presidency in [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]] after the [[U.S. Supreme Court]]'s decision in ''[[Bush v. Gore]]'' remanded the case to the [[Supreme Court of Florida|Florida Supreme Court]], which declared there was not sufficient time to hold a recount without violating the [[U.S. Constitution]]. Just eight months into his presidency, the terrorist attacks of [[September 11, 2001]], suddenly transformed Bush into a wartime president. Bush's approval ratings surged to near 90%. Within a month, the forces of a coalition led by the United States [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|entered Afghanistan]], which had been sheltering [[Osama bin Laden]], suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks. The [[Taliban]] had been removed by December, although a long reconstruction would follow.

The [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] then turned its attention to [[Iraq]] and argued the need to remove [[Saddam Hussein]] from power in Iraq had become urgent. Among [[Rationale for the Iraq War|the stated reasons]] were that Saddam's regime had tried to acquire [[nuclear material]] and had not properly accounted for [[Biological weapons|biological]] and [[Chemical weapons|chemical]] material it was known to have previously possessed. Both the possession of these [[weapons of mass destruction]] (WMD), and the failure to account for them, would violate [[Iraq sanctions|the UN sanctions]]. The assertion about WMD was hotly advanced by the Bush administration from the beginning, but other major powers including China, France, Germany, and Russia remained unconvinced that Iraq was a threat and refused to allow passage of a UN Security Council resolution to authorize the use of force.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tagliabue |first=John |date=March 6, 2003 |title=France, Germany and Russia Vow to Stop Use of Force Against Iraq |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/international/europe/france-and-russia-ready-to-use-veto-against-iraq-war.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528125012/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/international/europe/france-and-russia-ready-to-use-veto-against-iraq-war.html |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=February 20, 2017 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Iraq permitted UN weapon inspectors in November 2002, who were continuing their work to assess the WMD claim when the Bush administration decided to proceed with war without UN authorization and told the inspectors to leave the country.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 17, 2003 |title=U.S Advises Weapons Inspectors to Leave Iraq |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-17-inspectors-iraq_x.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825014028/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-03-17-inspectors-iraq_x.htm |archive-date=August 25, 2012 |access-date=September 17, 2017 |work=[[USA Today]] |location=[[Vienna, Austria]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The United States invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003, along with a "[[coalition of the willing]]" that consisted of additional troops from the United Kingdom, and to a lesser extent, from Australia and Poland. Within about three weeks, the invasion caused the collapse of both the Iraqi government and its [[Military of Iraq|armed forces]]; however, the U.S. and allied forces failed to find any [[weapon of mass destruction]] in Iraq. Nevertheless, on May 1, Bush landed on the aircraft carrier {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72|6}}, in a [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]] [[S-3 Viking]], where he gave [[2003 Mission Accomplished Speech|a speech]] announcing the end of "major combat operations" in the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2004 |title=Rove Regrets Using Banner Declaring 'Mission Accomplished' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4760238 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207225336/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4760238 |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |access-date=November 1, 2024 |website=[[NBC News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

== Nominations ==

=== Republican nomination ===
{{main|George W. Bush 2004 presidential campaign|2004 Republican Party presidential primaries|2004 Republican National Convention}}
{{George W. Bush series}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|-
| style="background:#F1F1F1;" colspan="30"|[[File:Republican Disc.svg|65px|center|link=Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party (United States)]]<big>'''2004 Republican Party ticket'''</big>
|-
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; width:200px;"| [[George W. Bush|{{color|white|George W. Bush}}]]
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; width:200px;"| [[Dick Cheney|{{color|white|Dick Cheney}}]]
|-  style="color:#000; font-size:100%; background:#FFD0D7;"
| style="width:3em; width:200px;"|'''''for President'''''
| style="width:3em; width:200px;"|'''''for Vice President'''''
|-
| [[File:George-W-Bush.jpeg|center|200x200px]]
| [[File:46 Dick Cheney 3x4.jpg|center|200x200px]]
|-
| [[List of presidents of the United States|43rd]]<br>[[President of the United States]]<br /><small>(2001–2009)</small>
| [[List of vice presidents of the United States|46th]]<br>[[Vice President of the United States]]<br /><small>(2001–2009)</small>
|-
| colspan=2 |[[George W. Bush 2004 presidential campaign|'''Campaign''']]
|-
| colspan=2 |[[File:Bush Cheney 2004 campaign logo.svg|center|200x200px]]
|}

Bush was able to ward off any serious challenge to the Republican nomination. Senator [[Lincoln Chafee]] from Rhode Island considered challenging Bush on an anti-war platform in [[New Hampshire]] but decided not to run after the capture of [[Saddam Hussein]] in December 2003.<ref>Lincoln Chafee, ''Against the Tide'' (2007), pp. 119–20</ref> On March 10, 2004, Bush officially attained the number of delegates needed to be nominated at the [[2004 Republican National Convention]] in  [[New York City]]. He accepted the nomination on September 2, 2004, and retained [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] as his [[running mate]]. During the convention and throughout the campaign, Bush focused on two themes: defending America against terrorism and building an [[ownership society]]. The ownership society included allowing people to invest some of their [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] in the stock market, increasing home and stock ownership, and encouraging more people to buy their own [[health insurance]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gongloff |first=Mark |date=September 2, 2004 |title=Bush to Push Ownership Society |url=https://money.cnn.com/2004/09/01/news/economy/election_bush_plan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901210439/https://money.cnn.com/2004/09/01/news/economy/election_bush_plan/ |archive-date=September 1, 2020 |access-date=2017-11-16 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

=== Democratic Party nomination ===
{{Main|John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign|2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2004 Democratic National Convention}}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|-
| style="background:#F1F1F1;" colspan="30"|[[File:Democratic Disc.svg|65px|center|link=Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party (United States)]]<big>'''2004 Democratic Party ticket'''</big>
|-
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; width:200px;"| [[John Kerry|{{color|white|John Kerry}}]]
! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; width:200px;"| [[John Edwards|{{color|white|John Edwards}}]]
|-  style="color:#000; font-size:100%; background:#C8EBFF;"
| style="width:3em; width:200px;"|'''''for President'''''
| style="width:3em; width:200px;"|'''''for Vice President'''''
|-
| [[File:John F. Kerry.jpg|center|200x200px]]
| [[File:John Edwards, official Senate photo portrait.jpg|center|200x200px]]
|-
| [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]]<br />from [[Massachusetts]]<br /><small>(1985–2013)</small>
| [[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]]<br />from [[North Carolina]]<br /><small>(1999–2005)</small>
|-
| colspan=2 |[[John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign|'''Campaign''']]
|-
| colspan=2 | [[File:Kerry Edwards 2004 campaign logo.svg|center|200x200px]]
|}

==== Withdrawn candidates ====
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="font-size:90%"
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center; width:700px; font-size:120%; color:white; background:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |''Candidates in this section are sorted by popular vote from the primaries''
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;" |'''[[John Edwards]]'''
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;" |'''[[Howard Dean]]'''
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;" |'''[[Dennis Kucinich]]'''
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;" |'''[[Wesley Clark]]'''
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;" |'''[[Al Sharpton]]'''
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;" |'''[[Joe Lieberman]]'''
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;" |'''[[Carol Moseley Braun|Carol Moseley<br>Braun]]'''
! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:120%;" |'''[[Dick Gephardt]]'''
|-
|[[File:John Edwards, official Senate photo portrait.jpg|alt=|center|120x120px]]
|[[File:HowardDeanDNC-cropped.jpg|alt=|center|120x120px]]
|[[File:Dennis Kucinich.jpg|alt=|center|120x120px]]
|[[File:General Wesley Clark official photograph (cropped).jpg|alt=|center|120x120px]]
|[[File:Al Sharpton by David Shankbone (cropped).jpg|alt=|center|120x120px]]
|[[File:Joe Lieberman official portrait 2 (cropped) (cropped).jpg|alt=|center|120x120px]]
|[[File:Sen. Carol Moseley Braun.jpg|alt=|center|120x120px]]
|[[File:Dick Gephardt color.jpg|alt=|center|120x120px]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|&nbsp;[[United States Senate|U.S. Senator]] from<br>[[North Carolina]]<br><small>(1999–2005)</small>
|[[List of Governors of New Mexico|{{black|79th}}]]<br>[[Governor of Vermont]]<br><small>(1991–2003)</small>
|[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from [[Ohio's 10th congressional district|Ohio]]<br><small>(1997–</small><small>20</small><small>13)</small>
|[[Supreme Allied Commander Europe|Supreme Allied]]<br>[[Supreme Allied Commander Europe|Commander Europe]]<br><small>(1997–2000)</small>
|Minister and Activist
|U.S. Senator<br>from [[Connecticut]]<br><small>(1989–2013)</small>
|U.S. Senator<br>from [[Illinois]]<br><small>(1993–1999)</small>
|[[House Minority Leader]]<br><small>(1995–2003)</small>
|-
|[[File:John Edwards 2004 campaign logo.svg|alt=|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Howard Dean 2004 campaign logo.svg|alt=|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Denniskucinich2004logo.gif|alt=|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Wesley Clark 2004 campaign logo.svg|alt=|center|97x97px]]
|[[File:Al Sharpton presidential campaign, 2004.png|alt=|center|95x95px]]
|[[File:Joe Lieberman campaign logo 2004.svg|alt=|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Carol_Moseley_Braun_2004_logo.png|alt=|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Dick_Gephardt_bumper_sticker_2004.gif|alt=|center|100x100px]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|[[John Edwards 2004 presidential campaign|Campaign]]
|[[Howard Dean 2004 presidential campaign|Campaign]]
|[[Dennis Kucinich 2004 presidential campaign|Campaign]]
|[[Wesley Clark 2004 presidential campaign|Campaign]]
|[[Al Sharpton 2004 presidential campaign|Campaign]]
|[[Joe Lieberman 2004 presidential campaign|Campaign]]
|[[Carol Moseley Braun 2004 presidential campaign|Campaign]]
|[[Dick Gephardt 2004 presidential campaign|Campaign]]
|- style="text-align:center"
|''W: March 2''<br><small>'''3,162,337''' votes</small>
|''W: Feb 18''<br><small>'''903,460''' votes</small>
|''W: July 22''<br>'''<small>620,242</small>''' <small>votes</small>
|''W: Feb 11''<br><small>'''547,369''' votes</small>
|''W: March 15''<br>'''<small>380,865</small>''' <small>votes</small>
|''W: Feb 3''<br>'''<small>280,940</small>''' <small>votes</small>
|''W: Jan 15''<br>'''<small>98,469</small>''' <small>votes</small>
|''W: Jan 20''<br><small>'''63,902''' votes</small>
|}

==== Democratic primaries ====
[[File:Kerry02.jpg|thumb|Senator Kerry at a primary rally in St. Louis, Missouri, at the St. Louis Community College – Forest Park]]
The [[2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries]] took place from January 14 to June 8, 2004, to select the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]'s nominee for president. Before the primaries, Vermont governor [[Howard Dean]] was a favorite to win the nomination; however, Massachusetts senator [[John Kerry]] won victories in two early races: the [[2004 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses|Iowa caucuses]] and the [[2004 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary|New Hampshire primary]]. These wins strengthened Kerry's previously weak campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nagourney |first=Adam |date=2004-01-28 |title=Kerry Defeats Dean in New Hampshire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/28/politics/campaign/kerry-defeats-dean-in-new-hampshire.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223075345/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/28/politics/campaign/kerry-defeats-dean-in-new-hampshire.html |archive-date=February 23, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-23 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> By March 11, Kerry had received enough delegates to win the nomination.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Primary Results: Delegate Scorecard |url=https://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/scorecard/graphical.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921111752/https://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/scorecard/graphical.html |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-23 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Other major candidates included North Carolina senator [[John Edwards]] and retired U.S. Army general [[Wesley Clark]]. Kerry asked Republican senator [[John McCain]] to be his running mate but McCain turned down his offer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-06-12 |title=McCain Spurning Kerry on VP Slot? |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mccain-spurning-kerry-on-vp-slot/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921111628/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mccain-spurning-kerry-on-vp-slot/ |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=2024-04-11 |work=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> On July 6, Kerry selected Edwards as his running mate, shortly before the [[2004 Democratic National Convention]] was held later that month in [[Boston]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kerry Names Edwards His Running Mate |url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/06/kerry.vp/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223075217/https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/06/kerry.vp/ |archive-date=February 23, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-23 |work=[[CNN]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

==== Democratic National Convention ====
Heading into the convention, the Kerry–Edwards ticket unveiled its new slogan: a promise to make America "stronger at home and more respected in the world".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newman |first=Maria |date=2004-07-13 |title=Democratic Convention to Focus on Kerry's Military Service |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/13/politics/campaign/democratic-convention-to-focus-on-kerrys-military-service.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224204341/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/13/politics/campaign/democratic-convention-to-focus-on-kerrys-military-service.html |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-24 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Kerry made his [[Vietnam War]] experience the convention's prominent theme.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-07-24 |title=Kerry Casts Bush As Unfit to Lead Frayed Military |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5344731 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224204347/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5344731 |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=[[NBC News]] |language=en}}</ref> The keynote address at the convention was delivered by [[Illinois]] state senator and U.S. Senate candidate and future president [[Barack Obama]]; the speech was well received, and it elevated Obama's status within the Democratic Party.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=David |date=June 2007 |title=The Speech |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2007/The-Speech/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614213455/http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/June-2007/The-Speech/ |archive-date=June 14, 2008 |access-date=April 13, 2008 |work=[[Chicago (magazine)|Chicago]]}}</ref>

=== Other nominations ===
[[File:David Cobb on fire.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.7|[[David Cobb (activist)|David Cobb]], the [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]] candidate]]
[[File:SI-MichaelBadnarik1.JPG|right|thumb|upright=0.45|[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] candidate Michael Badnarik]]
{{See also|List of candidates in the United States presidential election, 2004}}
There were four other presidential tickets on the ballot in a number of states totaling enough electoral votes to have a theoretical possibility of winning a majority in the [[U.S. Electoral College|Electoral College]]. They were:
* '''[[Michael Badnarik]]&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[Richard Campagna]]''', [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]] ([[Michael Badnarik presidential campaign, 2004|campaign]]). Badnarik was nominated on the third ballot and Campagna on the first ballot at the [[2004 Libertarian National Convention|Libertarian National Convention]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], held May 28–31, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-05-30 |title=Libertarians Pick Their Nominee |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5100095 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921110723/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5100095 |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=[[NBC News]] |language=en}}</ref>
* '''[[David Cobb (activist)|David Cobb]]&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[Pat LaMarche]]''', [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]] ([[David Cobb presidential campaign, 2004|campaign]]). Cobb was nominated on the second ballot at the [[2004 Green National Convention]] in [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], held June 23–28, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-08-07 |title=Green Party Deals Nader a Blow |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/green-party-deals-nader-a-blow/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224061028/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/green-party-deals-nader-a-blow/ |archive-date=February 24, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
* '''[[Ralph Nader]]&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[Peter Camejo]]''', [[independent politician|independent]] (also [[Reform Party USA|Reform Party]], [[Independent Party of Delaware|Independent Party]] (DE), Populist Party (MD), Better Life Party, Cross-endorsements N.Y., Peace and Justice Party, Independence Parties of [[Independence Party of New York|New York]] and South Carolina, and the Vermont Green Party who chose not to ratify the national party's presidential nominee).<ref name="FEC 2013">{{Cite web |year=2005 |title=Federal Elections 2004 |url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2004.pdf#page=11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902024923/https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/federalelections2004.pdf#page=11 |archive-date=September 2, 2021 |access-date=February 24, 2024 |website=Federal Election Commission |location=[[Washington, D.C.]]}}</ref>
* '''[[Michael Peroutka]]&nbsp;/&nbsp;[[Chuck Baldwin]]''', [[United States Constitution Party|Constitution Party]] (also [[Alaskan Independence Party]]).&nbsp; Peroutka and Baldwin were unanimously nominated at the [[2004 Constitution Party National Convention|Constitution Party National Convention]] at [[Valley Forge, Pennsylvania]] (June 23–26, 2004).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Third Parties |url=https://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/candidates/third.parties.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921110624/https://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/candidates/third.parties.html |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

== Issues unique to the election ==
=== Electronic voting machines ===
Ahead of the 2004 election, some states implemented [[electronic voting]] systems. Critics raised several issues about voting machines, particularly those made by [[Diebold Election Systems]]. Cybersecurity professionals found security vulnerabilities in Diebold machines.<ref name="Warner">{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Melanie |date=November 9, 2003 |title=Machine Poliics in the Digital Age |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/09/business/machine-politics-in-the-digital-age.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111192546/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/09/business/machine-politics-in-the-digital-age.html |archive-date=2010-11-11 |access-date=2009-02-13 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Voting machines made by several companies were also criticized for their lack of a [[Voter-verified paper audit trail|paper trail]], which would have made results easier to verify.<ref name="Warner" /> Democrats also criticized various executives at [[Diebold, Inc.]] (the parent company of Diebold Election Systems) for their support of Bush's campaign, stating that it constituted a [[conflict of interest]].<ref name="Warner" /> Following these issues, [[California]] banned the use of Diebold's AccuVote TSX voting machines for elections in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwartz |first=John |date=2004-05-01 |title=High-Tech Voting System Is Banned in California |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/01/us/high-tech-voting-system-is-banned-in-california.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921110730/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/01/us/high-tech-voting-system-is-banned-in-california.html |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-06 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Campaign law changes ===
The 2004 election was the first to be affected by the [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]]s mandated by the [[Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act]] of 2002. The act created restrictions on fundraising by political parties and candidates. A large number of independent [[527 group]]s were created to bypass these restrictions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Justice |first=Glen |date=February 19, 2004 |title=The 2004 Campaign: Fund-Raising; Advocacy Groups Win Fund Ruling |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/19/us/the-2004-campaign-fund-raising-advocacy-groups-win-fund-ruling.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921110731/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/19/us/the-2004-campaign-fund-raising-advocacy-groups-win-fund-ruling.html |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-06 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Named for a section of the [[Internal Revenue Code]], these groups were able to raise large amounts of money for various political causes as long as they did not coordinate their activities with political campaigns. Examples of 527s include [[Swift Boat Veterans for Truth]], [[MoveOn.org]], the [[Media Fund]], and [[America Coming Together]]. These groups were active throughout the campaign season, spending a record $556 million for all elections in 2004.<ref name=":3" />

The [[Stand by Your Ad provision]] of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act required political advertisements on television to include a verbal disclaimer identifying the organization or campaign responsible for the advertisement. This provision was intended to force campaigns to take responsibility for [[negative ad]]vertisements.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Rutenberg |first=Jim |date=2003-11-08 |title=Fine Print Is Given Full Voice in Campaign Ads |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/08/us/fine-print-is-given-full-voice-in-campaign-ads.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206061823/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/08/us/fine-print-is-given-full-voice-in-campaign-ads.html |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-06 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Campaign strategists criticized this requirement, stating that it would waste time and cause voters to be confused.<ref name=":4" />

== General election campaign ==

=== Campaign issues ===
{{See also|Political positions of George W. Bush}}
Bush focused his campaign on national security, presenting himself as a decisive leader and contrasted Kerry as a "[[Flip-flop (politics)|flip-flopper]]." This strategy was designed to convey to American voters the idea that Bush could be trusted to be tough on terrorism while Kerry would be "uncertain in the face of danger."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevenson |first=Richard W. |date=February 24, 2004 |title=The 2004 Campaign: The President; Campaign Begins As Bush Attacks Kerry in Speech |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/us/the-2004-campaign-the-president-campaign-begins-as-bush-attacks-kerry-in-speech.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129043453/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/24/us/the-2004-campaign-the-president-campaign-begins-as-bush-attacks-kerry-in-speech.html |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In the final months before the election, Kerry's campaign focused on domestic issues such as the economy and health care. Kerry's campaign managers believed that Kerry had an advantage on domestic issues.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nagourney |first=Adam |date=October 3, 2004 |title=Domestic Issues Pushed to Front of Campaigns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/03/politics/campaign/domestic-issues-pushed-to-front-of-campaigns.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921110624/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/03/politics/campaign/domestic-issues-pushed-to-front-of-campaigns.html |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-19 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Bush's campaign also focused on increasing [[voter turnout]] among conservatives.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bumiller |first1=Elisabeth |last2=Halbfinger |first2=David M. |last3=Rosenbaum |first3=David E. |date=2004-11-04 |title=Turnout Effort and Kerry, Too, Were G.O.P.'s Keys to Victory |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/turnout-effort-and-kerry-too-were-gops-keys-to-victory.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815200454/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/turnout-effort-and-kerry-too-were-gops-keys-to-victory.html |archive-date=August 15, 2024 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> According to one exit poll, people who voted for Bush cited the issues of terrorism and traditional values as the most important factors in their decision.<ref name="Exitpoll">{{Cite web |title=Decision 2004 – Exit Poll |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5297138 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130315215707/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5297138/ |archive-date=March 15, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2008 |website=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> Kerry supporters cited the war in Iraq, the economy and jobs, and health care.<ref name="Exitpoll" />

[[File:Bush cropped.jpg|thumb|Bush speaking at campaign rally in St. Petersburg, Florida, October 19, 2004]]

==== Economy ====
{{See also|Economic policy of the George W. Bush administration}}
[[Bush tax cuts|Tax cuts were passed in 2001 and 2003]] under the Bush administration with Bush's support. Kerry voted against these tax cuts.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Stevenson |first=Richard W. |date=2004-03-21 |title=At Rally in Vital State, Bush Attacks Kerry on Economy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/21/us/at-rally-in-vital-state-bush-attacks-kerry-on-economy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204201543/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/21/us/at-rally-in-vital-state-bush-attacks-kerry-on-economy.html |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-04 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> During the 2004 campaign, Bush praised these tax cuts, stating that they helped to grow the economy.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2004 |title=Kerry Slams Bush over Deficit |url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/07/election.main/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204201543/https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/07/election.main/index.html |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> On the other hand, Kerry attacked Bush for failing to create jobs under his presidency.<ref name="Neilan">{{Cite news |last=Neilan |first=Terence |date=2004-09-15 |title=Kerry Sharply Criticizes Bush's Record on the Economy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/15/politics/campaign/kerry-sharply-criticizes-bushs-record-on-the-economy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204201543/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/15/politics/campaign/kerry-sharply-criticizes-bushs-record-on-the-economy.html |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-04 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Kerry stated that he wanted to reduce the [[United States budget deficit]] by capping government spending while ending various [[tax break]]s for businesses.<ref name=":2" /> Kerry also supported tax credits for businesses that hire additional workers.<ref name="Neilan" /> Bush attacked Kerry for his economic proposals, stating that they would cause Americans to pay higher taxes. Bush also attacked Kerry for previously supporting tax raises, such as a proposed increase on the [[federal gas tax]].<ref name=":1" />

==== Foreign policy ====
{{See also|Foreign policy of the George W. Bush administration}}
Bush defended the Iraq War, arguing that it was necessary to stop terrorism. He also said that the United States had made progress stopping terrorism in other nations.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Stevenson |first1=Richard W. |last2=Wilgoren |first2=Jodi |date=July 13, 2004 |title=The 2004 Campaign: The President; Bush Forcefully Defends War, Citing Safety of U.S. and World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/13/us/2004-campaign-president-bush-forcefully-defends-war-citing-safety-us-world.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129043452/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/13/us/2004-campaign-president-bush-forcefully-defends-war-citing-safety-us-world.html |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Bush attacked Kerry for opposing the Iraq War after voting to authorize it in 2002, characterizing the shift as one of many [[Flip-flop (politics)|flip-flops]] by Kerry.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Kerry Discusses $87 Billion Comment |url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/30/kerry.comment/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018154925/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/30/kerry.comment/ |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |access-date=2020-11-30 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Kerry argued that Bush had misled the American public in pursuing the Iraq War, noting that no illegal weapons had been found in Iraq. He said that the Iraq War was a mistake<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Wilgoren |first1=Jodi |last2=Bumiller |first2=Elisabeth |date=September 21, 2004 |title=In Harshest Critique Yet, Kerry Attacks Bush over War in Iraq |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/21/politics/campaign/in-harshest-critique-yet-kerry-attacks-bush-over-war-in.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921110625/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/21/politics/campaign/in-harshest-critique-yet-kerry-attacks-bush-over-war-in.html |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> and a diversion from terrorism in other nations such as Afghanistan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Toner |first=Robin |date=September 25, 2004 |title=Kerry Promises to Refocus U.S. on Terror War |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/25/politics/campaign/kerry-promises-to-refocus-us-on-terror-war.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129043452/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/25/politics/campaign/kerry-promises-to-refocus-us-on-terror-war.html |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> After the election, exit polls found that foreign policy concerns were the most important issues for voters.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Klinkner |first=Philip A. |date=2006 |title=Mr. Bush's War: Foreign Policy in the 2004 Election |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/27552219 |url-status=live |journal=Presidential Studies Quarterly |volume=36 |issue=2 |pages=281–296 |doi=10.1111/j.1741-5705.2006.00303.x |issn=0360-4918 |jstor=27552219 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131003231/https://www.jstor.org/stable/27552219 |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref>

==== Health care ====
[[Health savings account]]s (HSAs) were introduced in 2004 as part of the [[Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act]], signed by Bush in December 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fact Sheet: Guidance Released on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031222-1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131073548/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031222-1.html |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov}}</ref> As part of his 2004 campaign, Bush supported the expansion of HSAs. He proposed tax cuts to help Americans purchase their own health insurance. He also proposed a plan that would allow small businesses to purchase health insurance in large groups. Kerry's health care proposals included government subsidies for businesses that provide health insurance and the expansion of government-run health care programs.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Stevenson |first1=Richard W. |last2=Toner |first2=Robin |date=2004-09-17 |title=Bush Says Kerry Is Pushing Nationalized Health Care |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/17/politics/campaign/bush-says-kerry-is-pushing-nationalized-health-care.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131073546/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/17/politics/campaign/bush-says-kerry-is-pushing-nationalized-health-care.html |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-31 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Health policy experts stated that Bush's proposals would have a more limited impact than Kerry's proposals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Toner |first=Robin |date=2004-05-14 |title=The 2004 Campaign: Political Memo; Biggest Divide? Maybe It's Health Care |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/14/us/the-2004-campaign-political-memo-biggest-divide-maybe-it-s-health-care.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131074652/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/14/us/the-2004-campaign-political-memo-biggest-divide-maybe-it-s-health-care.html |archive-date=January 31, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-31 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Connolly |first=Ceci |date=August 22, 2004 |title=Bush Health Care Plan Seems to Fall Short |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21929-2004Aug21.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115061154/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21929-2004Aug21.html |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=January 31, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Kerry also attacked Bush for his policy on [[Stem cell laws and policy in the United States|stem cell research]]. In 2001, the Bush administration restricted embryonic stem cell research to existing [[Stem-cell line|stem cell lines]]. Kerry stated that this restriction was a barrier to conducting important research.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=June 21, 2004 |title=Kerry Voices Support for Stem Cell Funding |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2004/06/22/kerry-voices-support-for-stem-cell-funding/3c2583f1-21d2-4235-b22f-e08c7967e1be/ |access-date=February 23, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

==== Same-sex marriage ====
In July 2004, Bush announced his support for [[Federal Marriage Amendment|a Constitutional amendment]] to ban [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage]], shortly before the Senate voted on the amendment. Although Kerry stated that he opposed same-sex marriage, he also opposed the amendment, saying that the legality of same-sex marriage should be decided by individual states.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Nagourney |first1=Adam |last2=Kirkpatrick |first2=David D. |date=July 12, 2004 |title=The 2004 Campaign: Same-Sex Marriage; Urged by Right, Bush Takes on Gay Marriages |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/12/us/the-2004-campaign-same-sex-marriage-urged-by-right-bush-takes-on-gay-marriages.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921110625/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/12/us/the-2004-campaign-same-sex-marriage-urged-by-right-bush-takes-on-gay-marriages.html |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=January 28, 2024 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The Senate vote failed on July 14.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 15, 2004 |title=Same-Sex Marriage Senate Battle Over, War Is Not |url=https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/14/samesex.marriage/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129045110/https://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/14/samesex.marriage/index.html |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=[[CNN]] |location=[[Washington, D.C.]]}}</ref>

=== Controversies ===

==== Bush military service controversy ====
{{Main|George W. Bush military service controversy}}
During the campaign, Bush was accused of failing to fulfill his required service in the [[Texas Air National Guard]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Walter V. |date=September 8, 2004 |title=Bush Fell Short on Duty at Guard |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/09/08/bush_fell_short_on_duty_at_guard/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705171042/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/09/08/bush_fell_short_on_duty_at_guard/ |archive-date=July 5, 2007 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |work=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> A scandal occurred at [[CBS News]] after they aired a segment on ''60 Minutes Wednesday'', introducing what became known as the [[Killian documents controversy|Killian documents]]. These documents were allegedly written by Jerry B. Killian, Bush's squadron commander, and they contained various allegations about Bush's service.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 8, 2004 |title=CBS ''60 Minutes Wednesday'' Transcript |url=http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/complete_report/1B.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616133623/http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/complete_report/1B.pdf |archive-date=June 16, 2007 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |publisher=Thornburgh-Boccardi Report, Exhibit 1B}}</ref> Serious doubts about the [[Killian documents authenticity issues|documents' authenticity]] quickly emerged,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Michael Dobbs and Mike Allen |date=September 9, 2004 |title=Some Question Authenticity of Papers on Bush |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9967-2004Sep9.html |access-date=June 16, 2007 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> leading CBS to appoint a review panel that eventually resulted in the firing of the news producer and other significant staffing changes.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Thornburgh-Boccardi Report |url=http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/complete_report/CBS_Report.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070615103920/http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/complete_report/CBS_Report.pdf |archive-date=June 15, 2007 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 25, 2005 |title=Final Figure in '60 Minutes' Scandal Resigns |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/final-figure-in-60-minutes-scandal-resigns |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070530181840/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,151180,00.html |archive-date=May 30, 2007 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |work=[[Fox News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> The Killian documents were eventually concluded to be forgeries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zeller |first=Tom |date=May 23, 2005 |title=In Blogs, Smoking Guns Provide Ammunition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/23/technology/in-blogs-smoking-guns-provide-ammunition.html |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Kerry military service controversy ====
{{Main|John Kerry military service controversy}}
Kerry was accused by the [[Swift Vets and POWs for Truth]] of distorting his military service in Vietnam.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Election of 2004 |url=http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1384.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116025032/http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1384.html |archive-date=November 16, 2017 |access-date=2017-11-15}}</ref> The group challenged the legitimacy of each of the combat medals awarded to Kerry by the [[U.S. Navy]], and the disposition of his discharge. The organization spent $22.4 million in advertisements against Kerry. After the election, political analysts described their advertising campaign as effective.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Janofsky |first=Michael |date=2004-12-17 |title=Advocacy Groups Spent Record Amount on 2004 Election |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/17/politics/advocacy-groups-spent-record-amount-on-2004-election.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206054053/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/17/politics/advocacy-groups-spent-record-amount-on-2004-election.html |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-06 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The term [[swiftboating]] was used during the campaign to describe the organization's negative advertising, which Democrats saw as unfair. It was also used after the campaign to generally describe a harsh attack by a political opponent that is dishonest, personal and unfair.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 14, 2011 |title=Glossary: US Elections |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-15730790 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218073111/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-15730790 |archive-date=February 18, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Presidential debates ===
[[File:Bush Kerry 2004.jpg|thumb|right|Neighboring yard signs for Bush and Kerry in Grosse Pointe, Michigan]]
{{Main|2004 United States presidential debates}}Three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate were organized by the [[Commission on Presidential Debates]], and held in the autumn of 2004.
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Debates among candidates for the 2004 U.S. presidential election'''
!No.
!Date
!Host
!City
!Moderators
!Participants
!Viewship
(Millions)
|-
|P1
|Thursday, September 30, 2004
|[[University of Miami]]
|[[Coral Gables, Florida]]
|[[Jim Lehrer]]
|[[George W. Bush|President George W. Bush]]<br/>[[John Kerry|Senator John Kerry]]
|62.4<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=CPD: 2004 Debates |url=https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=2004-debates |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108145509/https://www.debates.org/index.php?page=2004-debates |archive-date=January 8, 2019 |access-date=2019-01-08 |website=Debates.org}}</ref>
|-
|VP
|Tuesday, October 5, 2004
|[[Case Western Reserve University]]
|[[Cleveland, Ohio]]
|[[Gwen Ifill]]
|[[Dick Cheney|Vice President Dick Cheney]]<br/>[[John Edwards|Senator John Edwards]]
|43.5<ref name=":0" />
|-
|P2
|Friday, October 8, 2004
|[[Washington University in St. Louis]]
|[[St. Louis, Missouri]]
|[[Charles Gibson]]
|[[George W. Bush|President George W. Bush]]<br/>[[John Kerry|Senator John Kerry]]
|46.7<ref name=":0" />
|-
|P3
|Wednesday, October 13, 2004
|[[Arizona State University]]
|[[Tempe, Arizona]]
|[[Bob Schieffer]]
|[[George W. Bush|President George W. Bush]]<br/>[[John Kerry|Senator John Kerry]]
|51.1
|}
* {{Location map+|USA|places={{Location map~ | USA
 | label = '''University of Miami<br />Coral Gables,&nbsp;FL'''
 | label_size = 50
 | position = top
 | lat_deg = 25.7192
 | lon_deg = -80.2771
 }}
 {{Location map~ | USA
 | label = '''Case Western Reserve University<br />Cleveland,&nbsp;OH'''
 | label_size = 65
 | position = right
 | lat_deg = 41.5043
 | lon_deg = -81.6084
 }}
 {{Location map~ | USA
 | label = '''Washington University in St. Louis<br />St.&nbsp;Louis,&nbsp;MO'''
 | label_size = 65
 | position = top
 | lat_deg = 38.648
 | lon_deg = -90.305
 }}
 {{Location map~ | USA
 | label = '''Arizona State University<br />Tempe,&nbsp;AZ'''
 | label_size = 65
 | position = top
 | lat_deg = 33.4242
 | lon_deg = -111.9281
 }}|alt=Map of United States showing debate locations|caption=Sites of the 2004 general election debates|width=250}}The first debate was held on September 30, slated to focus on foreign policy. A consensus formed among mainstream pollsters and pundits that Kerry won the debate decisively, strengthening what had come to be seen as a weak and troubled campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 4, 2004 |title=Poll: Kerry Wins Debate, Pulls Even |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6159637/site/newsweek/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910231251/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6159637/site/newsweek/ |archive-date=September 10, 2007 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |publisher=msnbc.com}}</ref>
* On October 5, the vice presidential debate between Cheney and Edwards. An initial poll by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] indicated a victory for Cheney, while polls by [[CNN]] and [[MSNBC]] gave it to Edwards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 October 2004 |title=Dick Cheney Debate with John Edwards Polls Give It to Edwards |url=http://www.s5000.com/what_the_huck/589/cheney_edwards.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928094213/http://www.s5000.com/what_the_huck/589/cheney_edwards.php |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |access-date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=s5000.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 6, 2004 |title=US Running Mates Clash over Iraq |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3716852.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060314161402/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3716852.stm |archive-date=March 14, 2006 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandalow |first=Marc |date=October 5, 2004 |title=Edwards-Cheney Debate: Wide Audience Expected: Tight Race Makes VP Matchup More Compelling |url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/10/05/DEBATE.TMP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041029185005/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2004%2F10%2F05%2FDEBATE.TMP |archive-date=October 29, 2004 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Langer |first1=Gary |last2=Sussman |first2=Dalia |date=October 6, 2004 |title=Cheney Gains with Help from His Friends |url=https://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/Vote2004/vp_debate_poll_041006.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010233735/http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/Vote2004/vp_debate_poll_041006.html |archive-date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref>
* The second presidential debate was conducted in a town meeting format, less formal than the first presidential debate. This debate saw Bush and Kerry taking questions on a variety of subjects from a local audience.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 9, 2004 |title=US Debate: What the Commentators Said |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3729206.stm |access-date=November 3, 2008 |work=[[BBC]]}}</ref>
* Bush and Kerry met for the third and final debate on October 13.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 14, 2004 |title=Transcript & Video: Third Debate – You Decide 2004 |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,135380,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407090723/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,135380,00.html |archive-date=April 7, 2013 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |work=[[Fox News]] |df=mdy-all}}</ref> 51 million viewers watched the debate. After Kerry, responding to a question about gay rights, reminded the audience that [[Mary Cheney|Vice President Cheney's daughter]] was a [[lesbian]], Cheney responded with a statement calling himself "a pretty angry father" due to Kerry using Cheney's daughter's sexual orientation for his political purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vanden Brook |first=Tom |date=October 14, 2004 |title=Kerry Lesbian Remark Angers Cheneys |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-10-14-lynne-cheney_x.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009063603/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-10-14-lynne-cheney_x.htm |archive-date=October 9, 2012 |access-date=October 5, 2012 |website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Polls taken by Gallup in found that Kerry pulled ahead in October, but showed a tight race as the election drew to a close.<ref name="galluptrials1">{{Cite web |date=September 24, 2008 |title=Gallup Presidential Election Trial-Heat Trends, 1936-2008 |url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/110548/gallup-presidential-election-trialheat-trends-19362004.aspx#4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111165040/http://news.gallup.com/poll/110548/gallup-presidential-election-trialheat-trends-19362004.aspx#4 |archive-date=January 11, 2018 |access-date=11 January 2018 |publisher=[[Gallup, Inc.]]}}</ref>

=== Osama bin Laden videotape ===
{{main|2004 Osama bin Laden video}}
On October 29, four days before the election, excerpts of a video of [[Osama bin Laden]] addressing the American people were broadcast on [[Al Jazeera Media Network|al Jazeera]]. In his remarks, bin Laden mentions the [[September 11 attacks]], and taunted Bush over his response to them. In the days following the video's release, Bush's lead over Kerry increased by several points.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sherwell |first=Philip |date=October 31, 2004 |title=Bush Takes a Six-Point Lead After New Bin Laden Tape |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1475515/Bush-takes-a-six-point-lead-after-new-bin-Laden-tape.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206183353/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1475515/Bush-takes-a-six-point-lead-after-new-bin-Laden-tape.html |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |access-date=October 5, 2012 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=[[London]]}}</ref>

=== Electoral College forecasts ===
Elections analysts and political pundits issue probabilistic forecasts of the composition of the Electoral College. These forecasts use a variety of factors to estimate the likelihood of each candidate winning the Electoral College electors for that state. Most election predictors use the following ratings:
* "<u>tossup</u>": no advantage
* "<u>tilt</u>" (used by some predictors): advantage that is not quite as strong as "lean"
* "<u>lean</u>" or "<u>leans</u>": slight advantage
* "<u>likely</u>": significant, but surmountable, advantage
* "<u>safe</u>" or "<u>solid</u>": near-certain chance of victory

Below is a list of states considered by one or more forecast to be competitive; states that are deemed to be "safe" or "solid" by forecasters ''[[The Cook Political Report]]'', ''[[The New York Times]]'', and [[CNN]].

{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" style="font-size:95%;
|- style="vertical-align:bottom"
! State
! {{Tooltip|EVs|Electoral votes}}

! [[New York Times]]<br />{{small|November 2,<br />2004}}<ref name="dcpoliticalreport.com">{{Cite web |title=DC Political Report |url=http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/members/2004/Pred2.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121204958/http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/members/2004/Pred2.htm |archive-date=2010-11-21 |website=DCPoliticalReport.com}}</ref>

![[FiveThirtyEight|538]]<br />{{small|November 2,<br />2004}}<ref name="dcpoliticalreport.com" />

![[CNN]]<br />{{small|November 2,<br />2004}}<ref name="dcpoliticalreport.com" />

|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Arkansas|Arkansas]]
| align=center|6
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Arizona|Arizona]]
| align=center|10
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Colorado|Colorado]]
| align=center|9
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Delaware|Delaware]]
| align=center|3
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Florida|Florida]]
| align=center|27
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Iowa|Iowa]]
| align=center|7
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R|flip}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R|flip}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Maryland|Maryland]]
| align=center|11
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Safe|D}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Maine|Maine]]
| align=center|15
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Michigan|Michigan]]
| align=center|17
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Minnesota|Minnesota]]
| align=center|10
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in New Hampshire|New Hampshire]]
| align=center|3
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D|flip}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Missouri|Missouri]]
| align=center|11
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Nevada|Nevada]]
| align=center|5
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in New Jersey|New Jersey]]
| align=center|11
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in New Mexico|New Mexico]]
| align=center|5
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R|flip}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in North Carolina|North Carolina]]
| align=center|15
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Ohio|Ohio]]
| align=center|20
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D|flip}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]
| align=center|21
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Oregon|Oregon]]
| align=center|7
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|D}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|D}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Tennessee|Tennessee]]
| align=center|11
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Safe|R}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Wisconsin|Wisconsin]]
| align=center|10
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R|flip}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Tossup}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in West Virginia|West Virginia]]
| align=center|5
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
|-
! [[2004 United States presidential election in Virginia|Virginia]]
| align=center|13
<!--CNN-->      | {{USRaceRating|Likely|R}}
<!--Cook-->  | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
<!--NYT-->     | {{USRaceRating|Lean|R}}
|}

== Timeline ==
{{Main|Timeline of the 2004 United States presidential election}}

== Results{{anchor|Election results}} ==

{{start U.S. presidential ticket box| pv_footnote=| ev_footnote=}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[George W. Bush]] (incumbent)| party='''[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]'''| state='''[[Texas]]'''| pv='''62,040,610'''| pv_pct='''50.73%'''| ev='''286'''| vp_name=[[Dick Cheney]] (incumbent)| vp_state='''[[Wyoming]]'''}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[John Kerry]]| party=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]| state=[[Massachusetts]]| pv=59,028,444| pv_pct=48.27%| ev=251| vp_name=[[John Edwards]]| vp_state=[[North Carolina]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[John Edwards]]<sup>(a)</sup>| party=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]| state=[[North Carolina]]| pv=5| pv_pct=0.00%| ev=1| vp_name=[[John Edwards]]| vp_state=[[North Carolina]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[Ralph Nader]]| party=Independent| state=[[Connecticut]]| pv=465,650| pv_pct=0.38%| ev=0| vp_name=[[Peter Camejo]]<sup>(b)</sup>| vp_state=[[California]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[Michael Badnarik]]| party=[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]| state=[[Texas]]| pv=397,265| pv_pct=0.32%| ev=0| vp_name=[[Richard Campagna]]| vp_state=[[Iowa]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[Michael Peroutka]]| party=[[Constitution Party (United States)|Constitution]]| state=[[Maryland]]| pv=143,630| pv_pct=0.12%| ev=0| vp_name=[[Chuck Baldwin]]| vp_state=[[Florida]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[David Cobb (activist)|David Cobb]]| party=[[United States Green Party|Green]]| state=[[Texas]]| pv=119,859| pv_pct=0.10%| ev=0| vp_name=[[Pat LaMarche]]| vp_state=[[Maine]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[Leonard Peltier]]| party=[[Peace and Freedom Party|Peace and Freedom]]| state=[[Pennsylvania]]| pv=27,607| pv_pct=0.02%| ev=0| vp_name=[[Janice Jordan]]| vp_state=[[California]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[Walt Brown (politician)|Walt Brown]]| party=[[Socialist Party USA|Socialist]]| state=[[Oregon]]| pv=10,837| pv_pct=0.01%| ev=0| vp_name=[[Mary Alice Herbert]]| vp_state=[[Vermont]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[Róger Calero]]<sup>(c)</sup>| party=[[Socialist Workers Party (USA)|Socialist Workers]]| state=[[New York (state)|New York]]| pv=3,689| pv_pct=0.01%| ev=0| vp_name=[[Arrin Hawkins]]<sup>(c)</sup>| vp_state=[[Minnesota]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box row| name=[[Thomas Harens]]| party=[[Christian Freedom]]| state=[[Minnesota (state)|Minnesota]]| pv=2,387| pv_pct=0.002%| ev=0| vp_name=Jennifer Ryan| vp_state=[[Minnesota]]}}
{{U.S. presidential ticket box other| pv=50,652| pv_pct=0.04%}}
{{end U.S. presidential ticket box| pv=122,295,345| ev=538| to_win=270}}

'''Source (Electoral and Popular Vote):''' [http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2004/tables.pdf Federal Elections Commission Electoral and Popular Vote Summary]
'''Voting age population:''' 215,664,000

'''Percent of voting age population casting a vote for president:''' 56.70%

<sup>(a)</sup> ''One [[faithless elector]] from [[Minnesota]] cast an electoral vote for John Edwards (written as John Ewards) for president.''<ref>{{Cite web |title=MPR: Minnesota elector gives Edwards a vote; Kerry gets other nine |url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/12/13_ap_electors/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101213450/http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/12/13_ap_electors/ |archive-date=January 1, 2010 |access-date=May 5, 2009 |publisher=News.minnesota.publicradio.org}}</ref><br />
<sup>(b)</sup> ''In Montana, Karen Sanchirico was listed on the ballot as Nader's running mate, not Camejo. In Alabama, Jan D. Pierce was Nader's running mate. In New York, Nader appeared on two distinct tickets, one with Camejo and one with Pierce.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 Presidential Election by State |url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/President-Details.phtml?n=NADER,RALPH |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212022429/http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/President-Details.phtml?n=NADER,RALPH |archive-date=February 12, 2006 |website=The Green Papers}}</ref>''<br />
<sup>(c)</sup> ''Because [[Arrin Hawkins]], then aged 28, was [[Constitution of the United States|constitutionally]] ineligible to serve as vice president, [[Margaret Trowe]] replaced her on the ballot in some states. [[James Harris (Socialist Workers Party politician)|James Harris]] replaced Calero on certain other states' ballots.''

{{bar box
| title    = Popular vote
| titlebar = #ddd
| width    = 600px
| barwidth = 410px
| bars     =
{{bar percent|'''Bush'''|{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}|50.73}}
{{bar percent|Kerry|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}|48.27}}
{{bar percent|Nader|{{party color|Independent (US)}}|0.38}}
{{bar percent|Badnarik|{{party color|Libertarian Party (US)}}|0.32}}
{{bar percent|Peroutka|{{party color|Constitution Party (US)}}|0.12}}
{{bar percent|Others|#777777|0.17}}
}}
{{bar box
| title    = Electoral vote
| titlebar = #ddd
| width    = 600px
| barwidth = 410px
| bars     =
{{bar percent|'''Bush'''|{{party color|Republican Party (US)}}|53.16}}
{{bar percent|Kerry|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}|46.65}}
{{bar percent|Edwards|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}|0.19}}
}}

=== Results by state ===
Of the 3,154 counties/districts/independent cities making returns, Bush won the most popular votes in 2,568 (81.42%) while Kerry carried 586 (18.58%). The following table records the official vote tallies for each state as reported by the [http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2004/federalelections2004.pdf official Federal Election Commission report]. The column labeled "Margin" shows Bush's margin of victory over Kerry (the margin is negative for states and districts won by Kerry).

{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;line-height:1.2"
|+ Legend
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|colspan=2|States/districts won by [[John Kerry|Kerry]]/[[John Edwards|Edwards]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|colspan=2|States/districts won by [[George W. Bush|Bush]]/[[Dick Cheney|Cheney]]
|-
| † || At-large results (for states that split electoral votes)
|}
<div style="overflow:auto">
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;font-size:90%;line-height:1.2"
|-
! colspan=2 |
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| George W. Bush<br />Republican
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| John Kerry<br />Democratic
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Ralph Nader<br />Independent / Reform
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Michael Badnarik<br />Libertarian
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Michael Peroutka<br />Constitution
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| David Cobb<br />Green
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="3"| Others
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Margin
! style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| State Total
|-
! align=center | State
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|EV|electoral votes}}
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|EV|electoral votes}}
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|EV|electoral votes}}
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|EV|electoral votes}}
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|EV|electoral votes}}
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|EV|electoral votes}}
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|EV|electoral votes}}
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|EV|electoral votes}}
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| #
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort- type="number"| %
! style="text-align:center;" data-sort-type="number" | #
!
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Alabama|Alabama]]||9||1,176,394||62.46%||9||693,933||36.84%||–||6,701||0.36%||–||3,529||0.19%||–||1,994||0.11%||–||0||0.00%||–||898||0.05%||–||482,461||25.62%||1,883,449||AL
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Alaska|Alaska]]||3||190,889||61.07%||3||111,025||35.52%||–||5,069||1.62%||–||1,675||0.54%||–||2,092||0.67%||–||1,058||0.34%||–||790||0.25%||–||79,864||25.55%||312,598||AK
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Arizona|Arizona]]||10||1,104,294||54.87%||10||893,524||44.40%||–||2,773||0.14%||–||11,856||0.59%||–||0||0.00%||–||138||0.01%||–||0||0.00%||–||210,770||10.47%||2,012,585||AZ
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Arkansas|Arkansas]]||6||572,898||54.31%||6||469,953||44.55%||–||6,171||0.58%||–||2,352||0.22%||–||2,083||0.20%||–||1,488||0.14%||–||0||0.00%||–||102,945||9.76%||1,054,945||AR
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in California|California]]||55||5,509,826||44.36%||–||6,745,485||54.31%||55||20,714||0.17%||–||50,165||0.40%||–||26,645||0.21%||–||40,771||0.33%||–||27,747||0.22%||–||−1,235,659||−9.95%||12,421,353||CA
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Colorado|Colorado]]||9||1,101,255||51.69%||9||1,001,732||47.02%||–||12,718||0.60%||–||7,664||0.36%||–||2,562||0.12%||–||1,591||0.07%||–||2,808||0.13%||–||99,523||4.67%||2,130,330||CO
|-  {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Connecticut|Connecticut]]||7||693,826||43.95%||–||857,488||54.31%||7||12,969||0.82%||–||3,367||0.21%||–||1,543||0.10%||–||9,564||0.61%||–||12||0.00%||–||−163,662||−10.37%||1,578,769||CT
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Delaware|Delaware]]||3||171,660||45.75%||–||200,152||53.35%||3||2,153||0.57%||–||586||0.16%||–||289||0.08%||–||250||0.07%||–||100||0.03%||–||−28,492||−7.59%||375,190||DE
|-  {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in the District of Columbia|District of Columbia]]||3||21,256||9.34%||–||202,970||89.18%||3||1,485||0.65%||–||502||0.22%||–||0||0.00%||–||737||0.32%||–||636||0.28%||–||−181,714||−79.84%||227,586||DC
|-  {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Florida|Florida]]||27||3,964,522||52.10%||27||3,583,544||47.09%||–||32,971||0.43%||–||11,996||0.16%||–||6,626||0.09%||–||3,917||0.05%||–||6,234||0.08%||–||380,978||5.01%||7,609,810||FL
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Georgia|Georgia]]||15||1,914,254||57.97%||15||1,366,149||41.37%||–||2,231||0.07%||–||18,387||0.56%||–||580||0.02%||–||228||0.01%||–||46||0.00%||–||548,105||16.60%||3,301,875||GA
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Hawaii|Hawaii]]||4||194,191||45.26%||–||231,708||54.01%||4||0||0.00%||–||1,377||0.32%||–||0||0.00%||–||1,737||0.40%||–||0||0.00%||–||−37,517||−8.74%||429,013||HI
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Idaho|Idaho]]||4||409,235||68.38%||4||181,098||30.26%||–||1,115||0.19%||–||3,844||0.64%||–||3,084||0.52%||–||58||0.01%||–||13||0.00%||–||228,137||38.12%||598,447||ID
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Illinois|Illinois]]||21||2,345,946||44.48%||–||2,891,550||54.82%||21||3,571||0.07%||–||32,442||0.62%||–||440||0.01%||–||241||0.00%||–||132||0.00%||–||−545,604||−10.34%||5,274,322||IL
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Indiana|Indiana]]||11||1,479,438||59.94%||11||969,011||39.26%||–||1,328||0.05%||–||18,058||0.73%||–||0||0.00%||–||102||0.00%||–||65||0.00%||–||510,427||20.68%||2,468,002||IN
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Iowa|Iowa]]||7||751,957||49.90%||7||741,898||49.23%||–||5,973||0.40%||–||2,992||0.20%||–||1,304||0.09%||–||1,141||0.08%||–||1,643||0.11%||–||10,059||0.67%||1,506,908||IA
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Kansas|Kansas]]||6||736,456||62.00%||6||434,993||36.62%||–||9,348||0.79%||–||4,013||0.34%||–||2,899||0.24%||–||33||0.00%||–||14||0.00%||–||301,463||25.38%||1,187,756||KS
|-  {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Kentucky|Kentucky]]||8||1,069,439||59.55%||8||712,733||39.69%||–||8,856||0.49%||–||2,619||0.15%||–||2,213||0.12%||–||0||0.00%||–||22||0.00%||–||356,706||19.86%||1,795,882||KY
|-  {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Louisiana|Louisiana]]||9||1,102,169||56.72%||9||820,299||42.22%||–||7,032||0.36%||–||2,781||0.14%||–||5,203||0.27%||–||1,276||0.07%||–||4,346||0.22%||–||281,870||14.51%||1,943,106||LA
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Maine|Maine]]<sup>†</sup>||2||330,201||44.58%||–||396,842||53.57%||2||8,069||1.09%||–||1,965||0.27%||–||735||0.10%||–||2,936||0.40%||–||4||0.00%||–||−66,641||−9.00%||740,752||ME
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Maine's 1st congressional district|''Maine-1'']]
|''1''||''165,824''||''43.14%''||–||211,703||55.07%||1||''4,004''||''1.04%''||–||''1,047''||''0.27%''||–||''346''||''0.09%''||–||''1,468''||''0.38%''||–||–||–||–||''−45,879''||''−11.94%''||''384,392''||''ME1''
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Maine's 2nd congressional district|''Maine-2'']]
|''1''||''164,377''||''46.13%''||–||185,139||51.95%||1||''4,065''||''1.14%''||–||''918''||''0.26%''||–||''389''||''0.11%''||–||''1,468''||''0.41%''||–||–||–||–||''−20,762''||''−5.83%''||''356,356''||''ME2''
|-  {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Maryland|Maryland]]||10||1,024,703||42.93%||–||1,334,493||55.91%||10||11,854||0.50%||–||6,094||0.26%||–||3,421||0.14%||–||3,632||0.15%||–||2,481||0.10%||–||−309,790||−12.98%||2,386,678||MD
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Massachusetts|Massachusetts]]||12||1,071,109||36.78%||–||1,803,800||61.94%||12||4,806||0.17%||–||15,022||0.52%||–||0||0.00%||–||10,623||0.36%||–||7,028||0.24%||–||−732,691||−25.16%||2,912,388||MA
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Michigan|Michigan]]||17||2,313,746||47.81%||–||2,479,183||51.23%||17||24,035||0.50%||–||10,552||0.22%||–||4,980||0.10%||–||5,325||0.11%||–||1,431||0.03%||–||−165,437||−3.42%||4,839,252||MI
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Minnesota|Minnesota]]||10||1,346,695||47.61%||–||1,445,014||51.09%||9||18,683||0.66%||–||4,639||0.16%||–||3,074||0.11%||–||4,408||0.16%||–||5,874||0.21%||–||−98,319||−3.48%||2,828,387||MN
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Mississippi|Mississippi]]||6||684,981||59.45%||6||458,094||39.76%||–||3,177||0.28%||–||1,793||0.16%||–||1,759||0.15%||–||1,073||0.09%||–||1,268||0.11%||–||226,887||19.69%||1,152,145||MS
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Missouri|Missouri]]||11||1,455,713||53.30%||11||1,259,171||46.10%||–||1,294||0.05%||–||9,831||0.36%||–||5,355||0.20%||–||0||0.00%||–||0||0.00%||–||196,542||7.20%||2,731,364||MO
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Montana|Montana]]||3||266,063||59.07%||3||173,710||38.56%||–||6,168||1.37%||–||1,733||0.38%||–||1,764||0.39%||–||996||0.22%||–||11||0.00%||–||92,353||20.50%||450,445||MT
|-  {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Nebraska|Nebraska]]<sup>†</sup>||2||512,814||65.90%||2||254,328||32.68%||–||5,698||0.73%||–||2,041||0.26%||–||1,314||0.17%||–||978||0.13%||–||1,013||0.13%||–||258,486||33.22%||778,186||NE
|-  {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Nebraska's 1st congressional district|''Nebraska-1'']]
|''1''||169,888||62.97%||1||''96,314''||''35.70%''||–||''2,025''||''0.75%''||–||''656''||''0.24%''||–||''405''||''0.15%''||–||''453''||''0.17%''||–||''30''||''0.01%''||–||''73,574''||''27.27%''||''269,771''||''NE1''
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Nebraska's 2nd congressional district|''Nebraska-2'']]
|''1''||153,041||60.24%||1||''97,858''||''38.52%''||–||''1,731''||''0.68%''||–||''813''||''0.32%''||–||''305''||''0.12%''||–||''261''||''0.10%''||–||''23''||''0.01%''||–||''55,183''||''21.72%''||''254,032''||''NE2''
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Nebraska's 3rd congressional district|''Nebraska-3'']]
|''1''||189,885||74.92%||1||''60,156''||''23.73%''||–||''1,942''||''0.77%''||–||''572''||''0.23%''||–||''604''||''0.24%''||–||''264''||''0.10%''||–||''29''||''0.01%''||–||''129,729''||''51.18%''||''253,452''||''NE3''
|-  {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Nevada|Nevada]]||5||418,690||50.47%||5||397,190||47.88%||–||4,838||0.58%||–||3,176||0.38%||–||1,152||0.14%||–||853||0.10%||–||3,688||0.44%||–||21,500||2.59%||829,587||NV
|-  {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in New Hampshire|New Hampshire]]||4||331,237||48.87%||–||340,511||50.24%||4||4,479||0.66%||–||372||0.05%||–||161||0.02%||–||0||0.00%||–||978||0.14%||–||−9,274||−1.37%||677,738||NH
|-  {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in New Jersey|New Jersey]]||15||1,670,003||46.24%||–||1,911,430||52.92%||15||19,418||0.54%||–||4,514||0.12%||–||2,750||0.08%||–||1,807||0.05%||–||1,769||0.05%||–||−241,427||−6.68%||3,611,691||NJ
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in New Mexico|New Mexico]]||5||376,930||49.84%||5||370,942||49.05%||–||4,053||0.54%||–||2,382||0.31%||–||771||0.10%||–||1,226||0.16%||–||0||0.00%||–||5,988||0.79%||756,304||NM
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in New York|New York]]||31||2,962,567||40.08%||–||4,314,280||58.37%||31||99,873||1.35%||–||11,607||0.16%||–||207||0.00%||–||87||0.00%||–||2,415||0.03%||–||−1,351,713||−18.29%||7,391,036||NY
|-  {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in North Carolina|North Carolina]]||15||1,961,166||56.02%||15||1,525,849||43.58%||–||1,805||0.05%||–||11,731||0.34%||–||0||0.00%||–||108||0.00%||–||348||0.01%||–||435,317||12.43%||3,501,007||NC
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in North Dakota|North Dakota]]||3||196,651||62.86%||3||111,052||35.50%||–||3,756||1.20%||–||851||0.27%||–||514||0.16%||–||0||0.00%||–||9||0.00%||–||85,599||27.36%||312,833||ND
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Ohio|Ohio]]||20||2,859,768||50.81%||20||2,741,167||48.71%||–||0||0.00%||–||14,676||0.26%||–||11,939||0.21%||–||192||0.00%||–||166||0.00%||–||118,601||2.11%||5,627,908||OH
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Oklahoma|Oklahoma]]||7||959,792||65.57%||7||503,966||34.43%||–||0||0.00%||–||0||0.00%||–||0||0.00%||–||0||0.00%||–||0||0.00%||–||455,826||31.14%||1,463,758||OK
|-  {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Oregon|Oregon]]||7||866,831||47.19%||–||943,163||51.35%||7||0||0.00%||–||7,260||0.40%||–||5,257||0.29%||–||5,315||0.29%||–||8,956||0.49%||–||−76,332||−4.16%||1,836,782||OR
|-  {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]]||21||2,793,847||48.42%||–||2,938,095||50.92%||21||2,656||0.05%||–||21,185||0.37%||–||6,318||0.11%||–||6,319||0.11%||–||1,170||0.02%||–||−144,248||−2.50%||5,769,590||PA
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Rhode Island|Rhode Island]]||4||169,046||38.67%||–||259,765||59.42%||4||4,651||1.06%||–||907||0.21%||–||339||0.08%||–||1,333||0.30%||–||1,093||0.25%||–||−90,719||−20.75%||437,134||RI
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina|South Carolina]]||8||937,974||57.98%||8||661,699||40.90%||–||5,520||0.34%||–||3,608||0.22%||–||5,317||0.33%||–||1,488||0.09%||–||2,124||0.13%||–||276,275||17.08%||1,617,730||SC
|-  {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in South Dakota|South Dakota]]||3||232,584||59.91%||3||149,244||38.44%||–||4,320||1.11%||–||964||0.25%||–||1,103||0.28%||–||0||0.00%||–||0||0.00%||–||83,340||21.47%||388,215||SD
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Tennessee|Tennessee]]||11||1,384,375||56.80%||11||1,036,477||42.53%||–||8,992||0.37%||–||4,866||0.20%||–||2,570||0.11%||–||33||0.00%||–||6||0.00%||–||347,898||14.27%||2,437,319||TN
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Texas|Texas]]||34||4,526,917||61.09%||34||2,832,704||38.22%||–||9,159||0.12%||–||38,787||0.52%||–||1,636||0.02%||–||1,014||0.01%||–||548||0.01%||–||1,694,213||22.86%||7,410,765||TX
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Utah|Utah]]||5||663,742||71.54%||5||241,199||26.00%||–||11,305||1.22%||–||3,375||0.36%||–||6,841||0.74%||–||39||0.00%||–||1,343||0.14%||–||422,543||45.54%||927,844||UT
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Vermont|Vermont]]||3||121,180||38.80%||–||184,067||58.94%||3||4,494||1.44%||–||1,102||0.35%||–||0||0.00%||–||0||0.00%||–||1,466||0.47%||–||−62,887||−20.14%||312,309||VT
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Virginia|Virginia]]||13||1,716,959||53.68%||13||1,454,742||45.48%||–||2,393||0.07%||–||11,032||0.34%||–||10,161||0.32%||–||104||0.00%||–||2,976||0.09%||–||262,217||8.20%||3,198,367||VA
|-  {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Washington (state)|Washington]]||11||1,304,894||45.64%||–||1,510,201||52.82%||11||23,283||0.81%||–||11,955||0.42%||–||3,922||0.14%||–||2,974||0.10%||–||1,855||0.06%||–||−205,307||−7.18%||2,859,084||WA
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in West Virginia|West Virginia]]||5||423,778||56.06%||5||326,541||43.20%||–||4,063||0.54%||–||1,405||0.19%||–||82||0.01%||–||5||0.00%||–||13||0.00%||–||97,237||12.86%||755,887||WV
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
|style="text-align:left;" |[[2004 United States presidential election in Wisconsin|Wisconsin]]||10||1,478,120||49.32%||–||1,489,504||49.70%||10||16,390||0.55%||–||6,464||0.22%||–||0||0.00%||–||2,661||0.09%||–||3,868||0.13%||–||−11,384||−0.38%||2,997,007||WI
|-  {{Party shading/Republican}}
|style="text-align:left;"|[[2004 United States presidential election in Wyoming|Wyoming]]||3||167,629||68.86%||3||70,776||29.07%||–||2,741||1.13%||–||1,171||0.48%||–||631||0.26%||–||0||0.00%||–||480||0.20%||–||96,853||39.79%||243,428||WY
|-
! U.S Total||538||62,040,610||50.73%||286||59,028,444||48.27%||251||465,151||0.38%||–||397,265||0.32%||–||143,630||0.12%||–||119,859||0.10%||–||99,887||0.08%||–||3,012,166||2.46%||122,294,846||US
|}
</div>

Although [[Guam]] has no votes in the Electoral College, it has held a straw poll for its presidential preference since 1980. In 2004, the results were Bush 21,490 (64.1%), Kerry 11,781 (35.1%), Nader 196 (0.58%) and Badnarik 67 (0.2%).<ref name="guam">{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2004 |title=2004 Presidential Vote |url=http://www.ballot-access.org/2004/1212.html#12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418150714/http://www.ballot-access.org/2004/1212.html#12 |archive-date=April 18, 2010 |access-date=September 17, 2008 |publisher=Ballot-Access.org}}</ref> Maine and Nebraska each allowed for their electoral votes to be split between candidates. In both states, two electoral votes were awarded to the winner of the statewide race and one electoral vote was awarded to the winner of each congressional district.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2019 |title=Maine Certificate of Ascertaiment, 2004 Presidential Election |url=https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2004_certificates/ascertainment_maine_01.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721095337/https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2004_certificates/ascertainment_maine_01.html |archive-date=July 21, 2017 |access-date=September 17, 2017}}</ref><ref name="nebraska">{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2019 |title=Nebraska Certificate of Ascertainment, 2004 Presidential Election |url=https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/2004_certificates/ascertainment_nebraska_01.html}}</ref>

====States that flipped Democratic to Republican====
*[[New Mexico]]
*[[Iowa]]

====States that flipped Republican to Democratic====
*[[New Hampshire]]

=== Close states ===
Red font color denotes those won by Republican President George W. Bush; blue denotes states won by Democrat John Kerry.

States where margin of victory was under 1% (22 electoral votes):
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Wisconsin 0.38% (11,384 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkred;">'''Iowa 0.67% (10,059 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkred;">'''New Mexico 0.79% (5,988 votes)'''</span>

States where margin of victory was more than 1% but less than 5% (93 electoral votes):
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''New Hampshire 1.37% (9,274 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkred;">'''Ohio 2.11% (118,601 votes)'''</span> ''(tipping point state)''
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Pennsylvania 2.50% (144,248 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkred;">'''Nevada 2.59% (21,500 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Michigan 3.42% (165,437 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Minnesota 3.48% (98,319 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Oregon 4.16% (76,332 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkred;">'''Colorado 4.67% (99,523 votes)'''</span>

States where margin of victory was more than 5% but less than 10% (149 electoral votes):
# <span style="color:darkred;">'''Florida 5.01% (380,978 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Maine's 2nd Congressional District 5.82% (20,762 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''New Jersey 6.68% (241,427 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Washington 7.18% (205,307 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkred;">'''Missouri 7.20% (196,542 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Delaware 7.59% (28,492 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkred;">'''Virginia 8.20% (262,217 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Hawaii 8.74% (37,517 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''Maine 9.00% (66,641 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkred;">'''Arkansas 9.76% (102,945 votes)'''</span>
# <span style="color:darkblue;">'''California 9.95% (1,235,659 votes)'''</span>

==== Statistics ====
<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/data.php?year=2004&datatype=national&def=1&f=0&off=0&elect=0 2004 Presidential General Election Data - National], Uselectionatlas.org.</ref>

Counties with highest percent of vote (Republican)
# '''<span style="color:red;">[[Ochiltree County, Texas]] 91.97%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:red;">[[Madison County, Idaho]] 91.89%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:red;">[[Glasscock County, Texas]] 91.56%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:red;">[[Roberts County, Texas]] 90.93%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:red;">[[Arthur County, Nebraska]] 90.23%</span>'''

Counties with highest percent of vote (Democratic)
# '''<span style="color:blue;">[[Washington, D.C.]] 89.18%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:blue;">[[Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota|Shannon County, South Dakota]] 84.62%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:blue;">[[San Francisco|City and County of San Francisco, California]] 83.02%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:blue;">[[Macon County, Alabama]] 82.92%</span>'''
# '''<span style="color:blue;">[[The Bronx|Bronx County, New York]] 82.80%</span>'''

=== Finance ===
[[File:2004CampaignAttention.png|thumb|upright=2.05|These maps show the amount of attention given by the campaigns to the close states. At left, each waving hand represents a visit from a presidential or vice-presidential candidate during the final five weeks. At right, each dollar sign represents one million dollars spent on TV advertising by the campaigns during the same time period.]]

Money spent
* [[George W. Bush]] (R) $367,227,801
* [[John Kerry]] (D) $326,236,288
* [[Ralph Nader]] (I) $4,566,037
* [[Michael Badnarik]] (L) $1,093,013
* [[Michael Peroutka]] (C) $729,087
* [[David Cobb (activist)|David Cobb]] (G) $493,723
* [[Walt Brown (politician)|Walt Brown]] (SPUSA) $2,060

Source: FEC<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search Campaign Finance Summary Data |url=http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/srssea.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006100202/http://fec.gov/finance/disclosure/srssea.shtml |archive-date=October 6, 2008 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |publisher=Fec.gov}}</ref>

=== Ballot access ===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Presidential ticket
! Party
! [[Ballot access]]
|-
| Bush / Cheney
| {{Party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| style="text-align:right;"| 50+[[Washington, D.C.|DC]]
|-
| Kerry / Edwards
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| style="text-align:right;"| 50+DC
|-
| Badnarik / Campagna
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} | Libertarian
| style="text-align:right;"| 48+DC
|-
| Peroutka / Baldwin
| {{Party shading/Constitution}} | Constitution
| style="text-align:right;"| 36
|-
| Nader / Camejo
| {{Party shading/Independent}}| Independent, Reform
| style="text-align:right;"| 34+DC
|-
| Cobb / LaMarche
| {{Party shading/Green}} | Green
| style="text-align:right;"| 27+DC
|}

=== 2004 United States Electoral College ===
{{Main|List of 2004 United States presidential electors}}

One elector in Minnesota cast a ballot for president with the name of "John Ewards<!-- Please don't correct this! It was misspelled on the ballot. -->" {{sic}} written on it.<ref name="LforLoser">{{Cite news |last=Freddoso |first=David |date=December 21, 2004 |title=Does L Stand for Loser? |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/213203/does-l-stand-loser-david-freddoso |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411225347/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/213203/does-l-stand-loser-david-freddoso |archive-date=April 11, 2015 |access-date=11 April 2015 |work=National Review}}</ref> The Electoral College officials certified this ballot as a vote for Edwards for president. The remaining nine electors cast ballots for Kerry. All ten electors in the state cast ballots for Edwards for vice president (Edwards's name was spelled correctly on all ballots for vice president).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Radio |first=Minnesota Public |title=MPR: Minnesota elector gives Edwards a vote; Kerry gets other nine |url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/12/13_ap_electors/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101213450/http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/12/13_ap_electors/ |archive-date=January 1, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2005}}</ref> This was the first time in U.S. history that an elector had cast a vote for the same person to be both president and vice president. Electoral balloting in Minnesota was performed by secret ballot, and none of the electors admitted to casting the Edwards vote for president, so it may never be known who the [[faithless elector]] was. It is not even known whether the vote for Edwards was deliberate or unintentional; the Republican Secretary of State and several of the Democratic electors have expressed the opinion that this was an accident.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Elector Gives Edwards a Vote; Kerry Gets Other Nine |url=http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/12/13_ap_electors/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101213450/http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2004/12/13_ap_electors/ |archive-date=January 1, 2010 |website=Minnesota Public Radio}}</ref>

=== Statistical analysis ===
[[File:CheneyatWJ2004.jpg|thumb|Cheney visited [[Washington & Jefferson College]] in [[Pennsylvania]] on October 27, 2004<ref>{{Cite web |title=Travels of Vice President Dick Cheney-October 2004 |url=http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/bush/cheneycal1004a.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010231053/http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/bush/cheneycal1004a.html |archive-date=October 10, 2008 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |publisher=Gwu.edu}}</ref>]]

During the campaign and as the results came in on the night of the election, there was much focus on [[Ohio]], [[Pennsylvania]], and [[Florida]]. These three [[swing state]]s were seen as evenly divided, and with each casting 20 electoral votes or more, they had the power to decide the election. As the final results came in, Kerry took Pennsylvania and then Bush took Florida, focusing all attention on Ohio.

[[File:Bush Oval Office phone call.jpg|thumb|left|Bush in the [[Oval Office]], receiving a [[Concession (politics)|concession]] phone call from Kerry, which came the afternoon of the day following the election]]

The morning after the election, the winner was still undetermined. The result in Ohio would decide the winner, although the results in [[New Mexico]] and [[Iowa]] were also undetermined. Bush led in Ohio, but the state was still counting provisional ballots. In the afternoon of the day after the election, Ohio Secretary of State [[Ken Blackwell]] announced that there were roughly 135,000 provisional ballots remaining. Kerry's campaign believed that it was statistically impossible to erase Bush's lead. Faced with this announcement, Kerry conceded defeat.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liptak |first=Adam |date=2004-11-04 |title=In Making His Decision on Ohio, Kerry Did the Math |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/in-making-his-decision-on-ohio-kerry-did-the-math.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125233402/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/in-making-his-decision-on-ohio-kerry-did-the-math.html |archive-date=January 25, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-25 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Bush became the first Republican to ever win without carrying New Hampshire, and the first to win the popular vote without Vermont and Illinois. This was the last time a president was re-elected to a consecutive term with a higher share of the electoral vote. Bush carried Colorado despite the state being Kerry's birth state. Bush simultaneously lost his own birth state of Connecticut, making this the only election since 1864 where neither candidate carried their birth state. This election was the first time since 1976 that New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, Illinois, Michigan, and California voted for the losing candidate in the popular vote, as well as the first since 1980 that Maryland did so, and the first since 1948 that Delaware did so. Bush's 2.4% popular vote margin is the smallest ever for a re-elected president surpassing the 1812 election.

Bush won three states that have not voted Republican since: Virginia, Colorado, and New Mexico. Virginia had voted Republican in every election from 1968 to 2004 but conversely has voted Democratic in every election since 2008. In contrast, this is the last election in which the losing candidate won any of the following states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. This is also the last time a Republican was elected without carrying Maine's 2nd congressional district. This election is the only time in history that every Northeastern state voted Democratic and every former Confederate state voted Republican in the same election. Thus, Bush is the only candidate to win without carrying any Northeastern electoral votes. Furthermore, this was the last election where both major party tickets consisted entirely of white men. This is also the last election where both parties flipped states and is also the most recent year when an incumbent candidate from either party would flip any states, with Bush taking the two which he did not win in 2000, in both New Mexico and Iowa.

{{as of|alt=Until [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]|2024}}, this was the last time [[2004 United States presidential election in Nevada|Nevada]] voted for the Republican presidential candidate, and the only presidential election since [[1988 United States presidential election|1988]] in which the Republican nominee won the popular vote, and it remains the only presidential election since [[1984 United States presidential election|1984]] in which the incumbent Republican president won a second consecutive term.{{update after|2032}} Bush also became the only incumbent president to win immediate re-election after previously losing the popular vote. Bush is the seventh Republican to have won re-election to a consecutive term, along with [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Ulysses S. Grant]], [[William McKinley]], [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], [[Richard Nixon]], and [[Ronald Reagan]]. The 2004 election had the highest turnout rate among eligible voters since [[1968 United States presidential election|1968]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Faler |first=Brian |date=January 14, 2005 |title=Election Turnout in 2004 Was Highest Since 1968 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/01/15/election-turnout-in-2004-was-highest-since-1968/8ff91650-23a2-4c3b-8276-db91263425c4/ |access-date=February 22, 2024 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Voter Turnout in Presidential Elections |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/voter-turnout-in-presidential-elections |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031002449/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/voter-turnout-in-presidential-elections |archive-date=October 31, 2018 |access-date=2021-01-08 |website=Presidency.UCSB.edu}}</ref> This is one of only four U.S. presidential elections in which the winner did not carry any of the three Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin; the others were 2000, 1916 and 1884.

<gallery perrow="4" widths="250px" heights="167px">
File:2004 US elections map electoral votes.png|Presidential electoral votes by state. Red is Republican; blue is Democratic.
File:2004 Presidential Election by County.svg|Presidential popular votes by county.
File:2004 US elections purple counties.png|Presidential popular votes by county as a scale from red/Republican to blue/Democratic.
File:Cartlinearlarge.png|Presidential popular votes [[cartogram]], in which the sizes of counties have been rescaled according to their population.
File:Cartogram-2004 Electoral Vote.PNG|Cartogram in which each square represents one electoral vote.
File:2004 United States presidential election results map by county.svg|Results by county, shaded according to winning candidate's percentage of the vote.
File:Presidential Elections 2000-2004 Swing in County Margins.svg|County swing from 2000 to 2004
File:2004 presidential election, results by congressional district (popular vote percentage).svg|Results by congressional district.
</gallery>

==Voter demographics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="8" | 2004 presidential vote by demographic subgroup
|-
! Demographic subgroup
! {{party shading/Democratic}} |Kerry
! {{party shading/Republican}} |Bush
! {{party shading/Independent}} |Other
! % of<br />total vote
|-
| Total vote
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 48
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 51
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 100
|-
! colspan="5" |Ideology
|-
| [[Modern liberalism in the United States|Liberals]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 86
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 13
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 21
|-
| [[Moderates]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 54
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 45
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 45
|-
| [[Conservatism in the United States|Conservatives]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 15
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 84
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 34
|-
! colspan="5" |Party
|-
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 89
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 11
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 37
|-
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 6
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 93
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 37
|-
| [[Independent (voter)|Independents]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 49
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;" | 26
|-
! colspan="5" |Gender
|-
| Men
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 44
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 55
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 46
|-
| Women
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 51
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 48
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 54
|-
! colspan="5" |Marital status
|-
| Married
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 42
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 57
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 63
|-
| Non-married
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 58
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 37
|-
! colspan="5" |Race
|-
| [[White American|White]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 41
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 58
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 77
|-
| [[African American|Black]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 88
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 11
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 11
|-
| [[Asian American|Asian]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 56
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
|-
| Other
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 56
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 54
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 44
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
! colspan="5" |Religion
|-
| [[Protestantism|Protestant]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 40
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 59
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 54
|-
| [[Catholic Church in the United States|Catholic]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 47
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 52
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 27
|-
| [[American Jews|Jewish]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 74
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 25
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
|-
| [[Islam in the United States|Muslim]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 93
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | <1
| style="text-align:right;" | >6
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
|-
| Other
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 74
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 23
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
| style="text-align:right;" | 7
|-
| [[Irreligion|None]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 67
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 31
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 10
|-
! colspan="5" |Religious service attendance
|-
| More than weekly
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 35
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 64
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 16
|-
| Weekly
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 41
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 58
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 26
|-
| Monthly
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 49
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 50
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 14
|-
| A few times a year
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 54
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 45
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 28
|-
| Never
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 62
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 36
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
|-
! colspan="5" |White evangelical or born-again Christian?
|-
| [[Evangelical|White evangelical or born-again Christian]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 21
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 78
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 23
|-
| Everyone else
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 56
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 77
|-
! colspan="5" |Age
|-
| 18–29 years old
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 54
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 45
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 17
|-
| 30–44 years old
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 46
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 53
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 29
|-
| 45–59 years old
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 48
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 51
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 30
|-
| 60 and older
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 46
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 54
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 24
|-
! colspan="5" |First time voter?
|-
| First time voter
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 53
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 46
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 11
|-
| Everyone else
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 48
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 51
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 89
|-
! colspan="5" |Sexual orientation
|-
| [[LGBT|Gay, lesbian, or bisexual]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 77
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 22
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
|-
| [[Heterosexuality|Heterosexual]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 46
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 53
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 96
|-
! colspan="5" |Education
|-
| Not a [[Secondary education in the United States|high school]] graduate
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 50
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 49
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
|-
| High school graduate
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 47
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 52
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 22
|-
| Some [[Higher education in the United States|college]] education
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 46
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 54
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 32
|-
| College graduate
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 46
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 52
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 26
|-
| [[Postgraduate education]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 55
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 44
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 16
|-
! colspan="5" |Family income
|-
| Under $15,000
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 63
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 36
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
| $15,000–30,000
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 57
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 42
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
|-
| $30,000–50,000
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 50
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 49
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 22
|-
| $50,000–75,000
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 43
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 56
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 23
|-
| $75,000–100,000
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 45
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 55
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 14
|-
| $100,000–150,000
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 42
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 57
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 11
|-
| $150,000–200,000
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 42
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 58
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
|-
| Over $200,000
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 35
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 63
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 3
|-
! colspan="5" |Union households
|-
| [[Labor unions in the United States|Union]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 59
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 40
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 24
|-
| Non-union
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 44
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 55
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 76
|-
! colspan="5" |Military service
|-
| [[Veteran#United States|Veterans]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 41
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 57
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 18
|-
| Non-veterans
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 50
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 49
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 82
|-
! colspan="5" |Issue regarded as most important
|-
| [[Morality|Moral values]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 18
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 80
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 22
|-
| [[Economy of the United States|Economy]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 80
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 18
| style="text-align:right;" | 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
|-
| [[Terrorism in the United States|Terrorism]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 14
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 86
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 19
|-
| [[Iraq War|Iraq]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 73
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 26
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 15
|-
| [[Health care of the United States|Health care]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 77
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 23
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 8
|-
| [[Taxation in the United States|Taxes]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 43
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 57
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 5
|-
| [[Education in the United States|Education]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 73
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 26
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 4
|-
! colspan="5" |Region
|-
| [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 56
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 43
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 22
|-
| [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 48
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 51
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 26
|-
| [[Southern United States|South]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 42
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 58
| style="text-align:right;" | 0
| style="text-align:right;" | 32
|-
| [[Western United States|West]]
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 50
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 49
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 20
|-
! colspan="5" |Community size
|-
| Urban
| style="text-align:right; background:#b0ceff;" | 54
| style="text-align:right; background:#fff3f3;" | 45
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 30
|-
| Suburban
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 47
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 52
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 46
|-
| Rural
| style="text-align:right; background:#f0f0ff;" | 42
| style="text-align:right; background:#ffb6b6;" | 57
| style="text-align:right;" | 1
| style="text-align:right;" | 25
|}
'''Source:''' ''[[CNN]]'' exit poll (<small>13,660 surveyed</small>)<ref>{{Cite news |title=CNN.com Election 2004 |url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514025413/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html |archive-date=May 14, 2007 |access-date=January 2, 2018 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
This is one of only two U.S. presidential elections, held since the Democrats and Republicans became the two major parties in U.S. politics, in which the winner did not carry any of the three [[Rust Belt]] states of [[2000 United States presidential election in Michigan|Michigan]], [[2000 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]], and [[2000 United States presidential election in Wisconsin|Wisconsin]]; the other was 2000, when Bush was first elected.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brownstein |first=Ronald |date=September 16, 2024 |title=Why These Three States Are the Most Consistent Tipping Point in American Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/17/politics/blue-wall-states-harris-trump-analysis/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921111750/https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/17/politics/blue-wall-states-harris-trump-analysis/index.html |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=September 16, 2024 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

=== Voting problems in Ohio ===
After the election, activists and election scholars criticized various issues with the election in Ohio. Long lines at polling places over seven hours were reported. An electronic voting machine erroneously gave thousands of extra votes to Bush.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liptak |first=Adam |date=2004-11-07 |title=Voting Problems in Ohio Set Off an Alarm |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/politics/campaign/voting-problems-in-ohio-set-off-an-alarm.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225082539/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/politics/campaign/voting-problems-in-ohio-set-off-an-alarm.html |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> A comprehensive look at the issues with the election in Ohio was assembled by [[Christopher Hitchens]] in a piece for [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] in 2006.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hitchens |first=Christopher |date=October 17, 2006 |title=Ohio's Odd Numbers |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2005/03/hitchens200503 |url-status=live |access-date=November 14, 2024 |magazine=Vanity Fair}}</ref> Professor [[Edward B. Foley]] stated that he believed that Ohio's voting problems did not affect the outcome.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dao |first1=James |last2=Fessenden |first2=Ford |last3=Zeller |first3=Tom Jr. |date=2004-12-24 |title=Voting Problems in Ohio Spur Call for Overhaul |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/24/us/voting-problems-in-ohio-spur-call-for-overhaul.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524182945/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/24/us/voting-problems-in-ohio-spur-call-for-overhaul.html |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== Objections and conspiracy theories ===
{{Main|2004 United States election voting controversies}}

{{Fringe section|date=January 2021}}
[[File:2004ElectionControversyMap.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Map of election day problems reported to the Election Incident Reporting System]]
After the election, many blogs published false rumors claiming to show evidence that voter fraud had prevented Kerry from winning.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zeller |first=Tom Jr. |date=2004-11-12 |title=Vote Fraud Theories, Spread by Blogs, Are Quickly Buried |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/12/politics/vote-fraud-theories-spread-by-blogs-are-quickly-buried.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319205327/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/12/politics/vote-fraud-theories-spread-by-blogs-are-quickly-buried.html |archive-date=March 19, 2024 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Joanna |date=December 19, 2020 |title=What Happened to the Democrats Who Never Accepted Bush's Election |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/12/19/2004-kerry-election-fraud-2020-448604 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126203318/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/12/19/2004-kerry-election-fraud-2020-448604 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-08 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> Although the overall result of the election was not challenged by the Kerry campaign, Green Party presidential candidate [[David Cobb (activist)|David Cobb]] and Libertarian Party presidential candidate [[Michael Badnarik]] obtained a recount in [[Ohio]]. This recount was completed December 28, 2004, although on January 24, 2007, a jury convicted two Ohio elections officials of selecting precincts to recount where they already knew the hand total would match the machine total, thereby avoiding having to perform a full recount.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kropko |first=M.R. |date=January 24, 2007 |title=Election Staff Convicted in Recount Rig |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/24/AR2007012401441.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726030859/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/24/AR2007012401441.html |archive-date=July 26, 2008 |access-date=May 26, 2010 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Independent candidate [[Ralph Nader]] obtained a recount in 11 New Hampshire precincts that used Accuvote voting machines.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Herron |first1=Michael C. |last2=Wand |first2=Jonathan |date=2007-06-01 |title=Assessing Partisan Bias in Voting Technology: The Case of the 2004 New Hampshire Recount |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261379406000230 |journal=Electoral Studies |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=247–261 |doi=10.1016/j.electstud.2006.02.004 |issn=0261-3794}}</ref>

At the official counting of the electoral votes on January 6, an objection was made under the [[Electoral Count Act]] (now {{usc|3|15}}) to Ohio's electoral votes. Because the motion was supported by at least one member of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the law required that the two houses separate to debate and vote on the objection. In the House of Representatives, the objection was supported by 31 Democrats. It was opposed by 178 Republicans, 88 Democrats and one independent. Not voting were 52 Republicans and 80 Democrats.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 6, 2005 |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 7 |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503021334/http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml |archive-date=May 3, 2008 |access-date=May 24, 2010 |publisher=Clerk.house.gov}}</ref>  Four people elected to the House had not yet taken office, and one seat was vacant. In the Senate, it was supported only by its maker, [[Barbara Boxer]], with 74 senators opposed and 25 not voting. During the debate, no Senator argued that the outcome of the election should be changed by either court challenge or revote. Boxer claimed that she had made the motion not to challenge the outcome but "to cast the light of truth on a flawed system which must be fixed now".<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 7, 2005 |title=Congress Ratifies Bush Victory After Challenge |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/07/politics/congress-ratifies-bush-victory-after-challenge.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104203812/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/07/politics/congress-ratifies-bush-victory-after-challenge.html |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |access-date=January 4, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 6, 2005 |title=Senator Barbara Boxer's (Democrat California) Objection to the Certification of Ohio's Electoral Votes |url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/EC-Boxer-20050106.phtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921112703/http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/EC-Boxer-20050106.phtml |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |access-date=January 4, 2021 |work=The Green Papers}}</ref>

Kerry would later state that "the widespread irregularities make it impossible to know for certain that the [Ohio] outcome reflected the will of the voters". In the same article, [[Democratic National Committee]] Chairman [[Howard Dean]] said: "I'm not confident that the election in Ohio was fairly decided... We know that there was substantial voter suppression, and the machines were not reliable. It should not be a surprise that the Republicans are willing to do things that are unethical to manipulate elections. That's what we suspect has happened."<ref name="RS">{{Cite magazine |last=Kennedy, Jr |first=Robert F. |author-link=Robert F. Kennedy Jr. |date=June 1, 2006 |title=Was the 2004 Election Stolen? |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10432334/was_the_2004_election_stolen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915175855/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10432334/was_the_2004_election_stolen |archive-date=September 15, 2008 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Timeline of the 2004 United States presidential election]]
* [[Ralph Nader's presidential campaigns]]
* [[Jesusland map]]
* [[Newspaper endorsements in the 2004 United States presidential election]]
* [[History of the United States (1991–2008)]]
* [[Kerry Fonda 2004 election photo controversy]]
* [[Second inauguration of George W. Bush]]
* [[White House shakeup (2004)]]
* [[2004 Colorado Amendment 36]]
* ''[[Bush vs. Kerry Boxing]]'', a 2004 boxing video game

=== Other elections ===
* [[2004 United States gubernatorial elections]]
* [[2004 United States House of Representatives elections]]
* [[2004 United States Senate elections]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* [http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2004/federalelections2004.pdf Official Federal Election Commission Report], a PDF file, with the latest, most final, and complete vote totals available.
* {{Cite web |title=Presidential Results by Congressional District |url=http://www.polidata.org/prcd |access-date=July 29, 2005 |website=Polidata |publisher=Washington, D.C.: Polidata}}
* [[Michael Barone (pundit)|Barone, Michael J.]] ''[[The Almanac of American Politics]]: 2006'' (2005)
* [[Corrado Maria Daclon|Daclon, Corrado Maria]], ''US elections and war on terrorism'' (2004), Analisi Difesa, no. 50
* [[Evan Thomas]], [[Eleanor Clift]], and Staff of Newsweek. ''Election 2004'' (2005)

=== Books ===
* [[James W. Ceaser|Ceaser, James W.]] and Andrew E. Busch. ''Red Over Blue: The 2004 Elections and American Politics'' (2005), narrative history.
* Freeman, Steven F. and [[Joel Bleifuss]], Foreword by U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. ''Was the 2004 Presidential Election Stolen? Exit Polls, Election Fraud, and the Official Count'' (Seven Stories Press, 2006) 
* [[John C. Green|Green, John C.]] and [[Mark J. Rozell]], eds. ''The Values Campaign?: The Christian Right and the 2004 Elections'' (2006)
* [[Mark Crispin Miller|Miller, Mark Crispin]]. ''Fooled Again: How the Right Stole the 2004 Election'' (2005) –
* [[Larry Sabato|Sabato, Larry J.]] ''Divided States of America: The Slash And Burn Politics of the 2004 Presidential Election'' (2005)
* [[Guido Stempel|Stempel III, Guido H.]] and Thomas K. Hargrove, eds. ''The 21st-Century Voter: Who Votes, How They Vote, and Why They Vote'' (2 vol. 2015)

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite journal |last=Nordhaus |first=William |date=July 2006 |title=Electoral Victory and Statistical Defeat? Economics, Politics, and the 2004 Presidential Election |journal=[[Quarterly Journal of Political Science]] |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=313–322 |doi=10.1561/100.00000014 |authorlink=William Nordhaus}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Baum |first1=Matthew A. |last2=Gussin |first2=Phil |date=March 2008 |title=In the Eye of the Beholder: How Information Shortcuts Shape Individual Perceptions of Bias in the Media |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1563/39b8fbcb5729287f73481975c71101749ce6.pdf |journal=[[Quarterly Journal of Political Science]] |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=1–31 |doi=10.1561/100.00007010 |s2cid=144067126 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208121451/https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1563/39b8fbcb5729287f73481975c71101749ce6.pdf |archive-date=2020-02-08}}

== External links ==
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* [http://www.countingthevotes.com/2004/ Election of 2004 in Counting the Votes]

=== Official candidate websites ===
<!--Alphabetical by last name-->
* [http://webarchive.loc.gov/lcwa0016/2004*/badnarik.org/ Michael Badnarik (Libertarian)] (archived version from the U.S. [[Library of Congress]] [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/lcwa/html/elec2004/elec2004-overview.html United States Election 2004 Web Archive])
* [http://webarchive.loc.gov/lcwa0016/2004*/http://www.georgewbush.com/ George W. Bush (Republican)] (archived version from the U.S. [[Library of Congress]] [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/lcwa/html/elec2004/elec2004-overview.html United States Election 2004 Web Archive])
* [http://webarchive.loc.gov/lcwa0016/2004*/http://www.votecobb.org/ David Cobb (Green)] (archived version from the U.S. [[Library of Congress]] [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/lcwa/html/elec2004/elec2004-overview.html United States Election 2004 Web Archive])
* [http://webarchive.loc.gov/lcwa0016/2004*/http://www.johnkerry.com/ John Kerry (Democrat)] (archived version from the U.S. [[Library of Congress]] [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/lcwa/html/elec2004/elec2004-overview.html United States Election 2004 Web Archive])
* [http://webarchive.loc.gov/lcwa0016/2004*/http://www.votenader.org/ Ralph Nader (Independent)] (archived version from the U.S. [[Library of Congress]] [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/lcwa/html/elec2004/elec2004-overview.html United States Election 2004 Web Archive])
* {{Cite web |title=Michael Peroutka (Constitution) |url=http://www.peroutka2004.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041101033019/http://www.peroutka2004.com/ |archive-date=November 1, 2004 |access-date=September 25, 2007 |df=mdy-all}}

=== Election maps and analysis ===
* [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/05/654502/-22 Maps of proportion shift, counties more Republican, counties more Democratic, compared to 2000 election.]
* [https://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/politics/2004_ELECTIONRESULTS_GRAPHIC/ NYTimes.com 2004 Election Results Interactive Graphic]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131104201819/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/politics101/politics101_ecmap.html PBS.org Interactive Electoral College Map]
* [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2004/ Maps and cartograms of the 2004 U.S. presidential election results] – Michael Gastner, [[Cosma Shalizi]], and Mark Newman, University of Michigan
* [http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/ Election 2004 Results] – Robert J. Vanderbei, Princeton University
* [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?f=0&year=2004 Interactive Atlas of the 2004 Presidential Election Results] – Dave Liep
* [http://the-raw-prawn.blogspot.com/2004/11/alternate-views-of-electoral-map.html Alternate views of the electoral results map]
* [http://www.rationalrevolution.net/articles/assessing_the_vote_and_the_roots.htm Assessing the Vote and the Roots of American Political Divide]

=== State-by-state forecasts of electoral vote outcome ===
* [http://www.latestpollresults.com/2004/ Probability analysis of Electoral College based on latest poll results by state]
* [http://www.electoral-vote.com/ Electoral Vote Predictor 2004]
* [http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2004/president/electoratemap.php Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417065904/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2004/president/electoratemap.php |date=April 17, 2013 }}
* {{Cite web |title=Race 2004 |url=http://race2004.net/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041102025028/http://race2004.net/ |archive-date=November 2, 2004 |access-date=June 7, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}
* [https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/polls/usatodaypolls.htm ''USA Today'' polls]

=== Controversies ===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080105053536/http://usliberals.about.com/od/electionreform/a/votingrights1.htm About.com, Democracy & Voting Rights – Ohio 2004 Election as Lesson in What Can Go Wrong]
* {{Cite web |date=October 31, 2004 |title=The Whoppers of 2004 |url=http://www.factcheck.org/article298.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041101093051/http://www.factcheck.org/article298.html |archive-date=November 1, 2004 |website=FactCheck |publisher=Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania}}

=== Election campaign funding ===
* [http://www.fundrace.org/ Money Maps]

=== Campaign ads ===
* [http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/2004 Campaign commercials from the 2004 election]

{{2004 U.S. presidential election}}
{{State results of the 2004 U.S. presidential election}}
{{United States general elections, 2004}}
{{United States presidential elections}}
{{George W. Bush}}
{{Dick Cheney}}
{{John Kerry}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2004 United States presidential election| ]]
[[Category:Dick Cheney]]
[[Category:John Kerry]]
[[Category:George W. Bush]]
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[[Category:Presidency of George W. Bush]]
[[Category:November 2004 events in the United States]]
[[Category:Aftermath of the September 11 attacks]]
[[Category:Impacts of the Iraq War]]