Kerry is/was a clown and worse, with even a stange wife that should have cost him a huge number of votes, and yet came within 100000 votes in Ohio of beating a sitting President in time of war.
Against Kerry, Bush should have had a Reagan type 1984 landslide
So much for the social issues that concerned the voters. Don't believe the hype.
Take a closer look at Ohio, and the reason for Bush's win there. Without the pro-marriage ballot measure in Ohio, Bush would have lost. Ohioans voted 62% in favor of banning same-sex marriage, and the overwhelming majority of those voting for the measure also went for Bush.
The facts belie your wishful thinking.