Bush Victory in 2004 Election Much Deeper, More Widespread than Widely Reported

The scope and depth of Bush's victory in the 2004 election has been grossly underreported. As far as I can tell, no major news outlet reported the following in the aftermath of the 2004 election

From the 2000 to the 2004 election, the percentages of the electorate voting for Bush went up in all but 6 states and the District of Columbia. And the 3 biggest increases were in BLUE STATES: Hawaii, New York and Rhode Island. Blue states posted 4 of the top 6 increases and five of the top eight.

Bush's margins of victory widened and his margins of loss narrowed in all but 15 states and the District of Columbia. And in those 15 states where his margin of victory narrowed, Bush's percentages still increased in all but 4...and the District of Columbia.

In short, an overwhelming number of blue states became less blue and an overwhelming number of red states more red from 2000 to 2004. In essence, the country (if you go by these overall numbers alone) became *less* divided, less polarized.

The shift may be even more pronounced on the county-by-county level.

Upshot: Democrats have an awful lot more to be depressed about and Bush lovers have a lot more to be joyful about than they realize. Why wasn't this widely reported? Somebody get Rush, Drudge and Co. on this.

Numbers ranked below (apolgoies if this is misaligned. Did what I could. Send requests for Excel spreadsheets to quesney1973@yahoo.com)...

Change in Bush share of the vote

2004 2000 increase in Bush Kerry Bush Gore Bush share Hawaii 45% 54% 37% 55% 8% New York 40% 58% 33% 58% 7% Rhode Island 39% 60% 32% 61% 7% Alabama 63% 37% 56% 42% 7% Oklahoma 66% 34% 60% 38% 6% New Jersey 46% 53% 40% 56% 6% Tennessee 57% 42% 51% 47% 6% Connecticut 44% 54% 39% 56% 5% Nebraska 67% 32% 62% 33% 5% Arizona 55% 44% 51% 45% 4% Deleware 46% 53% 42% 55% 4% Kansas 62% 36% 58% 37% 4% Massachusetts 37% 62% 33% 60% 4% West Virginia 56% 43% 52% 46% 4% Louisiana 57% 42% 53% 45% 4% Utah 71% 26% 67% 26% 4% Alaska 62% 35% 59% 28% 3% Arkansas 54% 45% 51% 46% 3% Flrorida 52% 47% 49% 49% 3% Indiana 60% 39% 57% 41% 3% Kentucky 60% 40% 57% 41% 3% Maryland 43% 56% 40% 57% 3% Missouri 53% 46% 50% 47% 3% Pennsylvania 49% 51% 46% 51% 3% Georgia 58% 41% 55% 43% 3% California 44% 55% 42% 54% 2% Illinois 45% 55% 43% 55% 2% Iowa 50% 49% 48% 49% 2% Michigan 48% 51% 46% 51% 2% Minnesota 48% 51% 46% 48% 2% Mississippi 60% 39% 58% 41% 2% New Mexico 50% 49% 48% 48% 2% North Dakota 63% 35% 61% 43% 2% Texas 61% 38% 59% 38% 2% Colorado 52% 46% 51% 42% 1% Idaho 68% 30% 67% 28% 1% Maine 45% 53% 44% 49% 1% Montana 59% 38% 58% 33% 1% New Hampshire 49% 50% 48% 47% 1% Ohi 51% 49% 50% 47% 1% South Carolina 58% 41% 57% 41% 1% Virginia 54% 45% 53% 44% 1% Washington 46% 53% 45% 50% 1% Wisconsin 49% 50% 48% 48% 1% DC 9% 90% 9% 85% 0% Nevada 50% 48% 50% 46% 0% North Carolina 56% 44% 56% 43% 0% Oregon 47% 52% 47% 47% 0% South Dakota 60% 38% 60% 38% 0% Wyoming 69% 29% 69% 28% 0% Vermont 39% 59% 41% 51% -2%

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Improvement in Bush margins (positive number means increase in margin of victory or decrease in margin of loss)

improvement Bush Kerry Bush Gore in margin Alabama 63% 37% 56% 42% 12% Tennessee 57% 42% 51% 47% 11% Oklahoma 66% 34% 60% 38% 10% North Dakota 63% 35% 61% 43% 10% New Jersey 46% 53% 40% 56% 9% Hawaii 45% 54% 37% 55% 9% Rhode Island 39% 60% 32% 61% 8% West Virginia 56% 43% 52% 46% 7% New York 40% 58% 33% 58% 7% Connecticut 44% 54% 39% 56% 7% Louisiana 57% 42% 53% 45% 7% Nebraska 67% 32% 62% 33% 6% Deleware 46% 53% 42% 55% 6% Kansas 62% 36% 58% 37% 5% Indiana 60% 39% 57% 41% 5% Flrorida 52% 47% 49% 49% 5% Arizona 55% 44% 51% 45% 5% Georgia 58% 41% 55% 43% 5% Missouri 53% 46% 50% 47% 4% Mississippi 60% 39% 58% 41% 4% Kentucky 60% 40% 57% 41% 4% Arkansas 54% 45% 51% 46% 4% Utah 71% 26% 67% 26% 4% Maryland 43% 56% 40% 57% 4% Pennsylvania 49% 51% 46% 51% 3% Texas 61% 38% 59% 38% 2% Michigan 48% 51% 46% 51% 2% Massachusetts 37% 62% 33% 60% 2% Iowa 50% 49% 48% 49% 2% Illinois 45% 55% 43% 55% 2% South Carolina 58% 41% 57% 41% 1% New Mexico 50% 49% 48% 48% 1% California 44% 55% 42% 54% 1% Virginia 54% 45% 53% 44% 0% South Dakota 60% 38% 60% 38% 0% Wyoming 69% 29% 69% 28% -1% Idaho 68% 30% 67% 28% -1% Wisconsin 49% 50% 48% 48% -1% Ohio 51% 49% 50% 47% -1% North Carolina 56% 44% 56% 43% -1% Minnesota 48% 51% 46% 48% -1% Washington 46% 53% 45% 50% -2% New Hampshire 49% 50% 48% 47% -2% Nevada 50% 48% 50% 46% -2% Maine 45% 53% 44% 49% -3% Colorado 52% 46% 51% 42% -3% Alaska 62% 35% 59% 28% -4% Montana 59% 38% 58% 33% -4% Oregon 47% 52% 47% 47% -5% DC 9% 90% 9% 85% -5% Vermont 39% 59% 41% 51% -10%

OW! My eyes have crossed and they won't straighten.

This would be interesting if the tables were readable/understandable.

Just give some examples...your "top 6" would do. For instance, did NY state go from 42% red in 2000 to 46%? Etc.

Bush got 4% more in Mass. in 2004 than in 2000 even though native-son Kerry was the candidate. I don't see how it was as close as it was.

Here's the top 10, but I'm not going to do them all.....

              Bush  Kerry   Bush   Gore  +/- 
Alabama       63%   37%     56%    42%   12% 
Tennessee     57%   42%     51%    47%   11% 
Oklahoma      66%   34%     60%    38%   10% 
No. Dakota    63%   35%     61%    43%   10% 
New Jersey    46%   53%     40%    56%    9% 
Hawaii        45%   54%     37%    55%    9%  
Rhode Island  39%   60%     32%    61%    8% 
West Virginia 56%   43%     52%    46%    7% 
New York      40%   58%     33%    58%    7% 
Connecticut   44%   54%     39%    56%    7%

Thought I'd point this out: The North Dakota 2000 figures on the right add up to 104%...

There are two rankings. That's the top ten improvements in his margins of victory and loss. There's another ranking of the top ten improvements in his share of each state's vote. I can e-mail the excel spreadsheet to anyone who wants to see the whole thing for themselves. E-mail quesney1973@yahoo.com.

If this keeps up - 2006 will be great!

This election left it's mark, no doubt. One thing I've noticed here in OK is that so many people are keeping the Bush stickers on their cars. Some have been removed, no doubt, but I routinely see at least 4-6 on my short drives around town. OK routinely supports the GOP for president, but it's never been as wide, deep and long as it was this time.

OUCH!

Thought I'd point this out: The North Dakota 2000 figures on the right add up to 104%...

Rat voter fraud strikes again. Some wiseguy in Bismark voted four times.

The Blue State figures show that even when Bush lost, he considerably improved his showing over 2000. Particularly in New York and California. Results future GOP presidential candidates can build on.

Denny Crane: "There are two places to find truth. First God and then Fox News."

Thought I'd point this out: The North Dakota 2000 figures on the right add up to 104%...

I only copied and pasted the info..... but you are correct.. Here's his data

North Dakota 63% 35% 61% 43% 10%

The numbers in the order of: Bush 2004 share, Kerry 2004 share, Bush 2000 share, Gore 2000 share, improvement in margin of Bush's victory.

Sorry for the alignment problems. If anyone can advise me on how to post the spreadsheet on freerepublic, I'd appreciate it.

A win is a win but this Bush win is solid through and through.

Compare this to a football contest. Team A beats Team B by a score of 27-20. On the surface, it might look to be a close game. But Team A dominated the line of scrimmage and the clock. While the score shoed the game to be close, it was never really in doubt after the first quarter. Team A methodically built a 21-10 lead and gave up some garbage points towards the end as they shifted to a prevent defense and just ran out the clock on offense, settling for a couple of field goals to maintain the lead.

Overall, Team A beat Team B in nearly every facet of the game and Team B was solidly beaten. But the final score might mislead some to think the game was a nailbiter when it really wasn't.

I think this is a rough analogy of the Bush/Kerry contest. Bush played a solid game throughout and beat Kerry solidly in the areas he was expected to win while doing better than expected in areas where Kerry was supposed to be stronger in.

A football team wins games consistently by recognizing the strengths of their opponents and coming up with a game plan to offset those strengths while at the same time focusing on their own strengths and ensuring that they play a sound, fundamental game in those areas while making no mistakes.

Bottom line is Bush played a solid game with no turnovers and it was enough to beat Kerry fair and square.

I'd agree - to an extent, the last-minute DUI in 2000 was the late turnover that made the game 24-23, not 24-16.

If W carried 49 states, the MSM would flockk to the 50th to interview Kerry voters


Let's try this again...


		2004		2000
		Bush	Kerry	Bush	Gore	increase in                                                    
                                                Bush share

Hawaii		45%	54%	37%	55%	8%

New York	40%	58%	33%	58%	7%

Rhode Island	39%	60%	32%	61%	7%

Alabama	        63%	37%	56%	42%	7%

Oklahoma	66%	34%	60%	38%	6%

New Jersey	46%	53%	40%	56%	6%

Tennessee	57%	42%	51%	47%	6%

Connecticut	44%	54%	39%	56%	5%

Nebraska	67%	32%	62%	33%	5%

Arizona   	55%	44%	51%	45%	4%

Deleware	46%	53%	42%	55%	4%

Kansas		62%	36%	58%	37%	4%

Massachusetts	37%	62%	33%	60%	4%

West Virginia	56%	43%	52%	46%	4%

Louisiana	57%	42%	53%	45%	4%

Utah		71%	26%	67%	26%	4%

Alaska		62%	35%	59%	28%	3%

Arkansas	54%	45%	51%	46%	3%

Flrorida	52%	47%	49%	49%	3%

Indiana		60%	39%	57%	41%	3%

Kentucky	60%	40%	57%	41%	3%

Maryland	43%	56%	40%	57%	3%

Missouri	53%	46%	50%	47%	3%

Pennsylvania	49%	51%	46%	51%	3%

Georgia	        58%	41%	55%	43%	3%

California	44%	55%	42%	54%	2%

Illinois	45%	55%	43%	55%	2%

Iowa		50%	49%	48%	49%	2%

Michigan	48%	51%	46%	51%	2%

Minnesota	48%	51%	46%	48%	2%

Mississippi	60%	39%	58%	41%	2%

New Mexico	50%	49%	48%	48%	2%

North Dakota	63%	35%	61%	43%	2%

Texas		61%	38%	59%	38%	2%

Colorado	52%	46%	51%	42%	1%

Idaho		68%	30%	67%	28%	1%

Maine		45%	53%	44%	49%	1%

Montana	        59%	38%	58%	33%	1%

N. Hampshire	49%	50%	48%	47%	1%

Ohio		51%	49%	50%	47%	1%

S. Carolina	58%	41%	57%	41%	1%

Virginia	54%	45%	53%	44%	1%

Washington	46%	53%	45%	50%	1%

Wisconsin	49%	50%	48%	48%	1%

DC		9%	90%	9%	85%	0%

Nevada	        50%	48%	50%	46%	0%

N. Carolina	56%	44%	56%	43%	0%

Oregon		47%	52%	47%	47%	0%

South Dakota	60%	38%	60%	38%	0%

Wyoming	        69%	29%	69%	28%	0%

Vermont	        39%	59%	41%	51%	-2%


--------------

		2004		2000		improvement                   
                                                in
		Bush 	Kerry	Bush	Gore	Bush margin

Alabama	        63%	37%	56%	42%	12%

Tennessee	57%	42%	51%	47%	11%

Oklahoma	66%	34%	60%	38%	10%

North Dakota	63%	35%	61%	43%	10%

New Jersey	46%	53%	40%	56%	9%

Hawaii		45%	54%	37%	55%	9%

Rhode Island	39%	60%	32%	61%	8%

West Virginia	56%	43%	52%	46%	7%

New York	40%	58%	33%	58%	7%

Connecticut	44%	54%	39%	56%	7%

Louisiana	57%	42%	53%	45%	7%

Nebraska	67%	32%	62%	33%	6%

Delaware	46%	53%	42%	55%	6%

Kansas		62%	36%	58%	37%	5%

Indiana		60%	39%	57%	41%	5%

Florida		52%	47%	49%	49%	5%

Arizona	        55%	44%	51%	45%	5%

Georgia	        58%	41%	55%	43%	5%

Missouri	53%	46%	50%	47%	4%

Mississippi	60%	39%	58%	41%	4%

Kentucky	60%	40%	57%	41%	4%

Arkansas	54%	45%	51%	46%	4%

Utah		71%	26%	67%	26%	4%

Maryland	43%	56%	40%	57%	4%

Pennsylvania	49%	51%	46%	51%	3%

Texas		61%	38%	59%	38%	2%

Michigan	48%	51%	46%	51%	2%

Massachusetts	37%	62%	33%	60%	2%

Iowa		50%	49%	48%	49%	2%

Illinois	45%	55%	43%	55%	2%

S. Carolina	58%	41%	57%	41%	1%

New Mexico	50%	49%	48%	48%	1%

California	44%	55%	42%	54%	1%

Virginia	54%	45%	53%	44%	0%

South Dakota	60%	38%	60%	38%	0%

Wyoming	        69%	29%	69%	28%	-1%

Idaho		68%	30%	67%	28%	-1%

Wisconsin	49%	50%	48%	48%	-1%

Ohio		51%	49%	50%	47%	-1%

N. Carolina	56%	44%	56%	43%	-1%

Minnesota	48%	51%	46%	48%	-1%

Washington	46%	53%	45%	50%	-2%

N. Hampshire	49%	50%	48%	47%	-2%

Nevada	        50%	48%	50%	46%	-2%

Maine		45%	53%	44%	49%	-3%

Colorado	52%	46%	51%	42%	-3%

Alaska		62%	35%	59%	28%	-4%

Montana	        59%	38%	58%	33%	-4%

Oregon		47%	52%	47%	47%	-5%

DC		9%	90%	9%	85%	-5%

Vermont	        39%	59%	41%	51%	-10%

Yeah, anyway we get the point regardless of the obvious Democrat voter math ;)