America: 2000-2016

[Yates]

If you wish for me to continue the storyline after tonight, please inform me.

Absolutely!

I didn't get the see the actual 2004 election because I was in the field.  It took my wife to call me cell (in tears) that President Bush won. She didn't vote for him, I did though.  Anyhow, this is the closest thing to an election night for me in years and I appreciate it very much! Election nights are like the Super Bowl for me!

Anyhow, have a safe and happy trip and great job on this timeline!

Thank you, MikeyMike.  I am glad that you are enjoying this.  I hope I don't keep you in too much suspense over the next two hours, however.

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

It’s 11:00, and we have some good news for the Barnes campaign, which hasn’t had the best night so far.

We can call the state of California for Governor Barnes.  The biggest state in the Union is reliably Democratic, and this was expected.

PRESIDENT
California

[X] Roy Barnes

We can call the island state of Hawaii for Barnes.

PRESIDENT
State

[X] Roy Barnes

We can also call the state of Washington for Governor Barnes.  While not a major swing state, Washington’s usually fairly close, and it is unusual for it to be called right away.

PRESIDENT
Washington

[X] Roy Barnes

Add Oregon to the “too close to call” list.

These victories bring Governor Barnes’ electoral vote total to 226, just three short of President Bush’s total.  This election is close to the end.

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

We now have some very good news for the Barnes campaign.  Governor Roy Barnes has won his home state of Georgia.

PRESIDENT
Georgia

[X] Roy Barnes

Georgia voters evidently approved of their Governor’s promotion.  Two years ago, Barnes won re-election in the state of Georgia, and now he has won it in a Presidential race.

For the first time this evening, Barnes has taken the lead in the electoral college, with 241 electoral votes, only 29 away from the Presidency.

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

We are now ready to project Roy Barnes the winner in the state of Oregon.

PRESIDENT
Oregon

[X] Roy Barnes

This expected victory gives Barnes a lock on at least 248 electoral votes, 22 away from the White House.

[Reaganfan]

If you wish for me to continue the storyline after tonight, please inform me.

Absolutely!

I didn't get the see the actual 2004 election because I was in the field.  It took my wife to call me cell (in tears) that President Bush won. She didn't vote for him, I did though.  Anyhow, this is the closest thing to an election night for me in years and I appreciate it very much! Election nights are like the Super Bowl for me!

Anyhow, have a safe and happy trip and great job on this timeline!

Why was she crying?

[CPT MikeyMike]

If you wish for me to continue the storyline after tonight, please inform me.

Absolutely!

I didn't get the see the actual 2004 election because I was in the field.  It took my wife to call me cell (in tears) that President Bush won. She didn't vote for him, I did though.  Anyhow, this is the closest thing to an election night for me in years and I appreciate it very much! Election nights are like the Super Bowl for me!

Anyhow, have a safe and happy trip and great job on this timeline!

Why was she crying?

Well Buddy, I married a left wing lady and she's always hated Preisdent Bush.  Don't ask how get make it work.  She's a good cook and I'm well.....good at other things!

[Reaganfan]

If you wish for me to continue the storyline after tonight, please inform me.

Absolutely!

I didn't get the see the actual 2004 election because I was in the field.  It took my wife to call me cell (in tears) that President Bush won. She didn't vote for him, I did though.  Anyhow, this is the closest thing to an election night for me in years and I appreciate it very much! Election nights are like the Super Bowl for me!

Anyhow, have a safe and happy trip and great job on this timeline!

Why was she crying?

Well Buddy, I married a left wing lady and she's always hated Preisdent Bush.  Don't ask how get make it work.  She's a good cook and I'm well.....good at other things!

But she was honestly balling?

[CPT MikeyMike]

If you wish for me to continue the storyline after tonight, please inform me.

Absolutely!

I didn't get the see the actual 2004 election because I was in the field.  It took my wife to call me cell (in tears) that President Bush won. She didn't vote for him, I did though.  Anyhow, this is the closest thing to an election night for me in years and I appreciate it very much! Election nights are like the Super Bowl for me!

Anyhow, have a safe and happy trip and great job on this timeline!

Why was she crying?

Well Buddy, I married a left wing lady and she's always hated Preisdent Bush.  Don't ask how get make it work.  She's a good cook and I'm well.....good at other things!

But she was honestly balling?

She was upset...it sounded like she crying. I was with my maneuver commander when I got the call. The commander (who is an @$$hole) and I were so happy for the Bush win I think it made my wife more upset.

[Colin]

If you wish for me to continue the storyline after tonight, please inform me.

Absolutely!

I didn't get the see the actual 2004 election because I was in the field.  It took my wife to call me cell (in tears) that President Bush won. She didn't vote for him, I did though.  Anyhow, this is the closest thing to an election night for me in years and I appreciate it very much! Election nights are like the Super Bowl for me!

Anyhow, have a safe and happy trip and great job on this timeline!

Why was she crying?

Well Buddy, I married a left wing lady and she's always hated Preisdent Bush.  Don't ask how get make it work.  She's a good cook and I'm well.....good at other things!

But she was honestly balling?

She was upset...it sounded like she crying. I was with my maneuver commander when I got the call. The commander (who is an @$$hole) and I were so happy for the Bush win I think it made my wife more upset.

What's your rank if you don't mind me asking?

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

We can now project that President Bush is the winner in Nevada.

PRESIDENT
Nevada

[X] George W. Bush

This brings his electoral vote total up to 234, 36 away from re-election.

[CPT MikeyMike]

What's your rank if you don't mind me asking?

Forgive me but I am laughing my ass off about that...

CPT stands for Captain. I was promoted on 02JAN06 in Iraq.

[Colin]

What's your rank if you don't mind me asking?

Forgive me but I am laughing my ass off about that...

CPT stands for Captain. I was promoted on 02JAN06 in Iraq.

Sorry I didn't know that you had incorporated your rank into your name.

Happy almost one year anniversary on your promotion by the way.

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

Polls in Alaska have now closed, and we can project President Bush the winner.

PRESIDENT
Alaska

[X] George W. Bush

This brings Bush to 237 electoral votes, 33 away from re-election.

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

There are five states left which will determine the winner of the 2004 Presidential election.  We’re going to take a look at the results so far in each of them.

In New Hampshire, with 95% of precincts reporting, President Bush leads with 49.87% to Governor Barnes’ 49.54%.  The lead here has shifted all night, and it’ll keep us up way past our bedtimes.

In New Mexico, with 82% of precincts reporting, President Bush has a small lead of 50.11% to Governor Barnes’ 48.96%. 

In Wisconsin, Barnes has a miniscule lead with 49.45% to Bush’s 49.41% with 91% of precincts reporting.  This is just one example of how every vote counts.

In Iowa, President Bush is leading narrowly.  With 85% of precincts reporting, Bush has 50.02%, while Barnes has 49.17%.

Now Florida’s the big state everybody’s watching.  With 96% of precincts reporting, Barnes is leading barely with 49.64%, while Bush is very close behind with 49.33%.  It seems that 2000 may repeat itself.

However, we have had very few reports of voting errors, so maybe we’ll be spared a recount.  We’ll give you another update very soon.

Electoral Vote
Barnes: 248
Bush: 237

[Reaganfan]

I have to say Yates, this is a good nailbiter for a forum what-if race. Keep it up!

[Yates]

I have to say Yates, this is a good nailbiter for a forum what-if race. Keep it up!

Thank you, Mike.

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

We are now ready to project the state of New Hampshire.  New Hampshire will be won by President George W. Bush, who carried it in 2000.

PRESIDENT
New Hampshire

[X] George W. Bush

With this victory, President Bush now has 241 electoral votes locked up.

The electoral map now looks like this:



Four states remain to determine the Presidency.

In New Mexico, with 90% of the precincts reporting, President Bush leads with 50.21% to Barnes’ 49.12%. 

In Wisconsin, President Bush has taken a very tiny lead with 94% of the precincts reporting.  He currently registers in with 49.48% of the vote compared to Governor Barnes’ 49.46%.

In Iowa, with 92% of the precincts reporting, President Bush has increased his lead to 50.49% to Governor Barnes’ 49.08%.

In the big one, Florida, President Bush has taken a narrow lead.  With 97% of the precincts reporting, Bush has 49.44% of the vote to Barnes’ 49.21%. 

This race is anyone’s guess.  We’ll keep you updated.

Electoral Vote
Barnes: 248
Bush: 241

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

We are now ready to project the result in another state.  We can safely say that President Bush has won the state of Iowa, a Gore state four years ago.

PRESIDENT
State

[X] George W. Bush

And, would you believe it, we now have a 248-248 tie in the electoral college.  This election is a nail-biter, a photo finish.



There are now three states that will determine the Presidency – Wisconsin, New Mexico, and Florida.

In Wisconsin, the lead has switched again.  With 96% of the precincts reporting, Governor Barnes has 49.51% of the vote, while President Bush has 49.38%.

In Florida, Governor Barnes has retaken his earlier lead, and now has 49.37% of the vote, as compared to Bush’s 49.32%, with 98% of the precincts reporting.

Electoral Vote
Barnes: 248
Bush: 248

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

We are now prepared to declare President Bush the winner in the state of New Mexico.

PRESIDENT
New Mexico

[X] George W. Bush

This victory gives Bush 253 electoral votes and a lead in the electoral college count.



Two states remain – Wisconsin and Florida: the states that will determine the winner of the 2004 Presidential election.

In Wisconsin, the lead has switched yet again.  With 98% of the precincts reporting, President Bush has 49.50% of the vote, while Roy Barnes has 49.41%.

In Florida, the vote has tightened ever so slightly.  Barnes still leads.  He has 49.36%, while Bush has 49.33%. 

It’s the finale, folks.

Electoral Vote
Bush: 253
Barnes: 248

[CPT MikeyMike]

If I could pull a Tim Russert and state the only state that will determine the presidency is....

FLORIDA
FLORIDA
FLORIDA
FLORIDA

That was all I could remember back in 2000. I think it's come down to that again too!

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

We have a winner in Wisconsin.  The winner is President Bush.

PRESIDENT
State

[X] George W. Bush

This victory gives President Bush 263 electoral votes, only seven away from victory.



It all comes down to Florida, just like it did four years ago.

Right now, with 99% of the precincts reporting in Florida, Roy Barnes leads with 49.35%, with President Bush just behind with 49.33%. 

It all comes down to this.  Let’s hope that, by our next update, we know who our next President is.

Electoral Vote
Bush: 263
Barnes: 248

[Yates]

MSNBC Live
Election Night Coverage

WE HAVE A WINNER.

With 99% of the precincts reporting in Florida, we are ready to project a winner.

PRESIDENT
Florida

[X] Roy Barnes

Roy Barnes
44th President of the United States

I hope that you enjoyed the 2004 Election section of this fiction as much as I enjoyed writing it.  I will return in early January to continue this timeline.  Thank you for reading.

[Kevin]

Job well done Yates!

[Reaganfan]

Good job Yates!

I will also be continuing my story, "The 2000's: The Quayle Era" over the next few days.

[YRABNNRM]

Keep it going!