VOTERS CHOOSE DOUBLE DUBYA

New York Post ^ | 11/03/04 | DEBORAH ORIN, IAN BISHOP, and STEFAN C. FRIEDMAN

[kattracks]

President Bush is headed back to the White House after a stunning re-election victory over John Kerry that confounded the pundits and the exit polls, according to vote tallies and TV network projections last night.

Bush was called the winner in Ohio, Florida and Alaska and was leading in New Mexico, Nevada and Iowa after a squeaker election in a divided nation at war.

That would guarantee Bush at least a 269-269 tie in electoral votes and send it to the GOP-controlled House of Representatives, where he would win.

If Bush wins New Mexico, Iowa or Nevada, it would give him at least 274 electoral votes, 4 more than the 270 needed to make him the outright winner.

But TV networks hesitated to call New Mexico and put Bush over the top — and impatient crowds at the president's victory party chanted, "Call it! Call it!" to the oversized TV screens.

[snip]

But Edwards looked drained as Kerry sent him out to face the disappointed crowd — in contrast to 2000, when Al Gore delivered a similar defiant message himself.

Furious Republicans, noting that all the networks had called Ohio for Bush, said Team Kerry was delusional and refusing to face reality on the president's big night

[Simmy2.5]

New Mexico is currently undergoing "Fixing" by the Dems. It is possible that he could lose it (especially with the questionable votes that are currently coming in). That still leaves Ohio which the MSM will refuse to call for Bush no matter what.

[mweidman]

Does anyone have a good estimate of how many provisional votes there actually are in Ohio?

[IrishRainy]

Yeah, it confounded the pundits alright. They were so eager to drink the Koolaid that they lost touch with reality. The sad thing is they pry don't KNOW ANYONE who would actually vote for Bush. Of course, they don't ask their maid or limo driver or doorman or waiter who they're voting for and why. They're in their own insular world and don't have a clue.

Well, at least we know who the enemy is.

And I, for one, will NEVER forget. And neither will my children...

[Bernard]

Around 135,000 - that's covered on other threads. Less than the margin of vitory for the President.

John Kerry doesn't want to come out at 4AM and concede. Without a full night's sleep, he would probably look like somebody would ask, "Why the long face, John?"

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Remember that a good share of those provisional ballots won't end up being counted, because they won't be valid votes.

[AHerald]

But Edwards looked drained as Kerry sent him out to face the disappointed crowd — in contrast to 2000, when Al Gore delivered a similar defiant message himself.

My memory is that it was William Daly, not Gore, who made the statement that the Gore campaign would keep fighting.