The Election by the Numbers--Updated!
I put together a spreadsheet comparing this election to 2000. Here are some of the findings:
In 2004, Bush got more votes than 2000 in 47 states (and the District of Columbia). The only states where he got fewer votes than in 2000 were Alaska, California, and Washington, and at least part of that is due to decreased turnout in all three of those states. (Update: Those were the only three states that had decreased turnout in 2004). Kerry got more votes in 2004 than Gore did in 2000 in 45 states (and the District of Columbia).
Bush increased his percentage of the two-party vote in 33 states, declining in 17 states and DC. Of the states where he improved his percentage, 14 were Blue States. These were mostly the ones that had been talked of as possible pickups for the President, like Hawaii (which had the biggest swing to Bush at 5.5%) and New Jersey (Bush +5.1%). But there are some surprises in there. Rhode Island, which is probably the most liberal state in the nation, swung towards the Republicans by 5.2%. New York gave Bush 4.2% more of the vote than in 2000. Even Massachusetts, with a home state Senator in the race, gave Bush a higher percentage than in 2004. The state where the President did worst compared to his 2000 performance? Vermont. Howard Dean delivers!
