In No More than 5 Sentences Describe the 2004 Election

[J. J.]

A referendum on the last four years.

The "Security Election" where people voted for who they thought could better protect them.

[J. J.]

MA Democratic Senator John Kerry basically won the primary because the other main candidate, Howard Dean, self destructed in Iowa and NH.   

Kerry had trouble defining his position on the Iraq War through the entire campaign, which was a major issue which typified many questions about his decisiveness and leadership.

George W. Bush, the incumbent Republican, ran unopposed in the primaries and appealed to the conservative elements of the electorate in the general, on both the war and social issues, and emphasised that he could better deal with terrorism.

Bush won by holding the now GOP South, West and made inroads into the Mid-West, while Kerry held the North East and the "Left Coast," which was nearly identical to the 2000 election.