GENERAL ELECTION

The four presidential debates held at various colleges and mediated by various people had contradictory results to the overall election.

Kerry was reported the overall winner of the first debate held at the University of Miami on September 30th, and the debate seemed to strengthen his weakened campaign. That may have been because his opponent George W. Bush made quite a few incorrect comments and negative facial expressions while Kerry was speaking. Although in the second debate Bush was much more positive and even joked about his negative demeanor.

According to a CNN pole John Kerry was the majority winner of all the presidential debates, according to viewers, but that did not lead him to win the election.

Kerry's overall campaign focus was to be moderately supportive of controversial issues like gay marriage and abortion, which led him to be criticized for not having a steadfast position like his opponent. He hit Bush hard with criticism on his Iraq policy and unwarranted invasion, but even with that Bush used the "War on Terror" to his advantage and used the still fresh fear after 9/11 to win over voters. Kerry's policy in regards to the debates and a plan for Iraq certainly made him a respected candidate, but it wasn't enough attack soon enough.


In regards to swing states, Kerry visited Florida and Ohio with bus tours, to gain support in very important territory... New Mexico and Ohio had ballot counting trouble, which causes suspicion and concern if Bush really won the popular vote in Ohio, the most important swing state in the 2004 election.



OVERALL RESULTS:


BUSH:
286 electoral votes
50.7% of the popular vote

KERRY:
251 electoral votes
48.3% of the popular vote