A Tale of Two Elections
Based on official results from state election offices as reported by the Federal Election Commission on Feb. 11, 2005.
In 2000 then Governor Bush faced incumbent Vice President Gore.  Out of 105.3 million total votes cast in the presidential race, Gore actually obtained a plurality of 537,179 votes (0.51 percent).  However, Bush carried 30 states to Gore's 20 plus DC thereby eking out a controversial win in electoral votes.  Ralph Nader was also a factor, obtaining 2.74 percent of the vote nationwide.  Four years later, 122.3 million people voted in the presidential contest, an increase of 16.9 million.  President Bush secured a plurality of 3,000,176 votes (2.45 percent) over Sen. Kerry, the Democratic challenger.  Bush was able to flip Iowa and New Mexico, which had gone for Gore in 2000.  Meanwhile, New Hampshire moved into the Democratic column.
Margin of Victory in Percent State by State in 2004 and 2000



B U S H  2 0 0 0
B U S H


K E R R Y
G O R E  2 0 0 0

(76) 25
4
11
21
4
11
FL-0.01
NH-1.27
MO-3.34
OH-3.55
NV-3.55
TN-3.86
 .
 IA-0.67
NM-0.79
OH-2.11
NV-2.59
CO-4.67
 (46)  7
5
20
5
9
 0-5.0%
 (68)  10
4
21
17
9
7
 WI-0.38
NH-1.37
PA-2.50
MI-3.42
MN-3.48
OR-4.16
 .
 NM-0.06
WI-0.22
IA-0.31
OR-0.44
MN-2.41
PA-4.17
(63)  5
11
7
7
10
23
 (49)  6
8
5
9
13
8
AR-5.44
AZ-6.29
WV-6.33
LA-7.68
VA-8.03
CO-8.36
 .
 FL-5.01
MO-7.20
VA-8.20
AR-9.76
 (57)  27
11
13
6
 5.01-10.0%
 (92)  15
11
3
4
4
55
 NJ-6.68
WA-7.18
DE-7.60
HI-8.75
ME-8.99
CA-9.95
 .
 ME-5.11
MI-5.13
WA-5.58
VT-9.93
(36)  4
18
11
3
(36) 13
14
9
GA-11.69
NC-12.83
AL-14.92
 .
 AZ-10.47
NC-12.43
WV-12.86
TN-14.27
LA-14.50
 (50)  10
15
5
11
9
 10.01-15.0%
 (38)  21
7
10
 IL-10.34
CT-10.36
MD-12.98
 .
 CA-11.80
IL-12.01
DE-13.06
(79) 54
22
3
(35)  8
12
8
7
KY-15.13
IN-15.63
SC-15.94
MS-16.92
 .
 GA-16.30
SC-17.08
MS-18.85
KY-19.86
 (37)  15
8
6
8
 15.01-20.0%
 (31)  31
 NY-18.29
 .
 NJ-15.84
MD-16.18
CT-17.47
HI-18.33
(37) 15
10
8
4
(49)  6
32
8
3
KS-20.80
TX-21.32
OK-21.88
SD-22.74
 .
 MT-20.50
IN-20.68
SD-21.47
TX-22.86
 (51)  3
11
3
34
 20.01-25.0%
 (7)  3
4
 VT-20.14
RI-20.75
 .
 NY-24.98
(33) 33
(26)  3
3
5
3
4
3
5
MT-25.07
ND-27.6
NE-29.00
AK-30.95
ID-39.53
WY-40.06
UT-40.49
 .
 KS-25.38
AK-25.55
AL-25.62
ND-27.36
OK-31.14
NE-33.22
ID-38.12
WY-39.79
UT-45.54
 (45)  6
3
9
3
7
5
4
3
5
 25.01%+
  (15)  12
3
 MA-25.16
DC-79.84
 .
 MA-27.30
RI-29.08
DC-76.21
(19)  12
4
3


Relative to the Democratic nominee, in which states did Bush improve upon his 2000 showing and where did he not do as well?
Overall, in 2004 as compared to 2000, Bush improved on his percentage margin in 19 states and reduced the Democratic percentage margin in another 12 states including the 2 pick-ups.  Kerry widened the Democrats' percentage margin in 9 states and reduced the Republican margin in 11 states including the pick up of New Mexico.
Change in Margin (Percentage Points) 2004 Compared to 2000
5.0+
 4.0-4.99
 3.0-3.99
 2.0-2.99
 1.0-1.99
 0-0.99
 0-0.99
 1.0-1.99
 2.0-2.99
 3.0-3.99
 4.0-4.99
 5.0+
FL (5.01)
UT (5.05)
IN (5.05)
WV (6.53)
NY (6.69)
LA (6.82)
CT (7.11)
RI (8.33)
OK (9.26)
HI (9.58)
TN (10.41)
AL (10.7)
 AZ (4.18)
NE (4.22)
AR (4.32)
KS (4.58)
GA (4.61)
KY (4.73)
 MD (3.20)
MO (3.86)
 MA (2.14)
 SC (1.14)
TX (1.54)
PA (1.67)
IL (1.67)
MI (1.71)
CA (1.85)
MS (1.93)
 WY (0.27)
NM (0.85)*
IA (0.98)*
 WI (0.16)
VA (0.17)
ND (0.2)
NC (0.40)
NV (0.96)
 MN (1.07)
SD (1.24)
ID (1.41)
OH (1.44)
WA (1.60)
 NH (2.64)*
 DC (3.63)
CO (3.63)
OR (3.72)
ME (3.88)
 MT (4.57)
 AK (5.40)
DE (5.46)
NJ (9.16)
VT (10.21)

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Copyright © 2004, 2005  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action