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Battleground States Decide Presidential Election

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Democratic Party and several liberal groups made a concerted effort to bring out new voters in key battleground states, but it was not enough to sway the outcome of the presidential election. President George W. Bush ultimately won several states that Democrats had hoped to capture, including Florida, Arkansas, Colorado, and West Virginia. Despite Kerry's victory in New Hampshire, a state that had voted for Bush in 2000, the president's hold on many key battleground states was a significant factor in his re-election.

Key Takeaways:

  • Bush won several key battleground states, including Florida, Arkansas, Colorado, and West Virginia, which had been seen as potential Democratic pickups.
  • Kerry carried New Hampshire, a state that had voted for Bush in 2000, indicating a shift in the state's voting pattern.
  • The president's success in holding onto these states was attributed in part to a strong turnout among independent voters, who favored Bush due to concerns about terrorism and "moral issues."
  • Democrats and liberal groups employed a massive get-out-the-vote effort, featuring hundreds of volunteers, thousands of phone calls, and extensive canvassing in key states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Colorado.
  • Republican efforts in the upper Midwest focused on issues like abortion and gun control to peel off voters who might otherwise support Democrats.
  • Both parties saw a high level of participation among first-time voters, with some volunteers and supporters expressing a desire to remain involved in politics beyond this election.

Statistics:

  • Over 430,000 Iowans cast early ballots in 2004, more than double the number who voted early in 2000.
  • In Colorado, Bush supporters made 1.4 million phone calls and knocked on 900,000 doors, while Democrats had help from unions and MoveOn.org.
  • More than 100,000 volunteers signed up to help the president in Pennsylvania, where Republicans indicated they made more calls to voters on Friday than in the entire 2000 campaign.
  • In Florida's Orange County, Republicans knocked on nearly 70,000 doors in the final 72 hours before the election.

Sources:

  • "USA TODAY research, Associated Press"
  • "U.S. Census Bureau"
  • "Congressional Quarterly"

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