United States presidential election in Montana, 2004

United States presidential election in Montana, 2004

November 2, 2004

Nominee George W. Bush John Kerry Party Republican Democratic Home state Texas Massachusetts Running mate Dick Cheney John Edwards Electoral vote 3 0 Popular vote 266,063 173,710 Percentage 59.1% 38.6%

County Results   Bush—50-60%   Bush—60-70%   Bush—70-80%   Bush—80-90%   Bush—>90%   Kerry—50-60%

President before election George W. Bush Republican Elected President George W. Bush Republican

The 2004 United States presidential election in Montana took place on November 2, 2004 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose 3 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice President.

Montana was won by incumbent President George W. Bush by a 20.5% margin of victory. Prior to the election, all 12 news organizations considered this a state Bush would win, or otherwise considered as a safe red state. The state typically votes for Democrats at the state level, having two Democratic senators: Max Baucus and Jon Tester, as well as a very popular governor Brian Schweitzer. Montana has voted for the Republican presidential nominee in every election since 1968 except in 1992, when the state slightly preferred Democrat Bill Clinton to Republican George H. W. Bush. Although third party and independents performed well, obtaining a total of 2.4% of the vote.

Primaries

• Montana Democratic primary, 2004

Campaign

Predictions

Elections in Montana
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State government Gubernatorial elections 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016
Ballot measures 2004 Initiative 96

There were 12 news organizations who made state by state predictions of the election. Here are their last predictions before election day.^[1]

1. D.C. Political Report: Solid Republican
2. Associated Press: Solid Bush
3. CNN: Bush
4. Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
5. Newsweek: Solid Bush
6. New York Times: Solid Bush
7. Rasmussen Reports: Bush
8. Research 2000: Solid Bush
9. Washington Post: Bush
10. Washington Times: Solid Bush
11. Zogby International: Bush
12. Washington Dispatch: Bush

Polling

Only a few pre-election polls were taken here. Bush won each one of them with a double digit margin and with at least 54% of the vote. The final 3 polling average showed him leading 55% to 35%.^[2]

Fundraising

Bush raised $385,635.^[3] Kerry raised $145,679.^[4]

Advertising and visits

Neither campaign advertised or visited this state during the fall campaign.^[5][6]

Analysis

Bush's key to victory was winning the highly populated Yellowstone County with 60% and winning Garfield County with 90% of the vote. Kerry only won 5 counties in the state, including swinging Missoula County and his best performance in the Democratic stronghold of Deer Lodge County.

Results

Results breakdown

By county

^[8]

By congressional district

Due to the state's low population, only one congressional district is allocated. This district, called the At-Large district, because it covers the entire state, and thus is equivalent to the statewide election results.

Electors

Technically the voters of Montana cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. Montana is allocated 3 electors because it has 1 congressional districts and 2 senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 3 electors, who pledge to vote for their candidate and his or her running mate. Whoever wins the majority of votes in the state is awarded all 3 electoral votes. Their chosen electors then vote for President and Vice President. Although electors are pledged to their candidate and running mate, they are not obligated to vote for them. An elector who votes for someone other than his or her candidate is known as a faithless elector.

The electors of each state and the District of Columbia met on December 13, 2004 to cast their votes for President and Vice President. The Electoral College itself never meets as one body. Instead the electors from each state and the District of Columbia met in their respective capitols.

The following were the members of the Electoral College from the state. All 3 were pledged for Bush/Cheney.^[9]

1. Jack Galt
2. Thelma Baker
3. John Brenden

References

See also

State results of the United States presidential election, 2004
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