Why did Bush do so well in Honolulu in 2004?

[King]

Not just compared to the 2008 Obama domination in Hawaii, but overall since it became a state.  He had the best GOP showing outside of the Nixon 72 and Reagan 84 landslides in that county despite getting killed by Gore in it in 2000.

In addition, traditionally, Honolulu County has always been what's caused Hawaii to lean Democratic, but in 2004 it was the only county that kept the race semi-close.

[phk]

Hawaii has an incumbent bias.

[Smash255]

Hawaii has an incumbent bias.

^^^^^

You can also see this by looking at the 92 results, less than a 2% difference in the state, less than .5% difference in Honululu from 88, despite a double digit Dem shift nationally.  Also Honululu has traditionally been a couple points more GOP than the state itself (though still typically Democratic)

[JerryBrown2010]

Dick Cheny spoke there in the last few days of the campaign.

[pogo stick]

Hawaii has an incumbent bias.

That is scary considering Obama might hit 80% in Hawaii in 2012

[Antonio the Sixth]

Dick Cheny spoke there in the last few days of the campaign.

That would mostly be a good reason for Hawaiians to massively vote for Kerry...

[ChrisJG777]

Hawaii has an incumbent bias.

That is scary considering Obama might hit 80% in Hawaii in 2012

You say that like it's a bad thing. 

Just a pity that Hawaii only has 4 EVs though. 

[JerryBrown2010]

Dick Cheny spoke there in the last few days of the campaign.

That would mostly be a good reason for Hawaiians to massively vote for Kerry...

Not If he was talking to them about how "safe" the country has been since 9/11.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Just a pity that Hawaii only has 4 EVs though. 

[minionofmidas]

Dick Cheny spoke there in the last few days of the campaign.

You're confusing cause and effect.

Cheney's appearance was hastily scheduled after a poll came out showing the state a dead heat.

https://uselectionatlas.org/USPRESIDENT/GENERAL/CAMPAIGN/2004/polls.php?fips=15

[JSojourner]

Dick Cheny spoke there in the last few days of the campaign.

That would mostly be a good reason for Hawaiians to massively vote for Kerry...

Not If he was talking to them about how "safe" the country has been since 9/11.

Wasn't there some sort of specific remark about Hawaii being particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks if John Kerry were elected?  I can't quite rememeber, but I do recall hearing some Bush boosters claiming Hawaii was "within reach" for the President because of John Kerry's perceived weakness on defense and alleged "lack of patriotism".

[sg0508]

9/11 and terrorism.  It's also why Bush was stronger in the northeast in 04 (except for VT and he didn't carry any states).

[politicalchick20]

I remember seeing Dick Cheney speaking in Hawaii on TV in the last days of the campaign in 2004, because he was wearing a lei and he looked VERY uncomfortable in it. I was uncomfortable LOOKING at him wearing it. It clashed so much lol.

[minionofmidas]

Dick Cheny spoke there in the last few days of the campaign.

That would mostly be a good reason for Hawaiians to massively vote for Kerry...

Not If he was talking to them about how "safe" the country has been since 9/11.

Wasn't there some sort of specific remark about Hawaii being particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks if John Kerry were elected?  I can't quite rememeber, but I do recall hearing some Bush boosters claiming Hawaii was "within reach" for the President because of John Kerry's perceived weakness on defense and alleged "lack of patriotism".

Hawaii has a large military-dependent population that isn't totally in the GOP's pocket like on the continent, hence with room to grow in 2004.