American Government and Organization

1. 0 American Government and Organization PS1301 Thursday, 4 November

2. The Outcome • Bush 51% 274 EV; Kerry 48% 252 EV (NM and Iowa are too close to call) • In the end, the outcome hinged on Ohio with its 20 electoral votes. • Bush received about 140,000 more votes than Kerry in Ohio. Had Kerry won the state, he would have been elected even though Bush would have won a MAJORITY of the popular vote (and over 3 million more votes than Kerry)

7. Turnout of Young People • Four years ago, just 42.3 percent of young people voted. This year more than 51.6 percent did. • Young people were especially active in battleground states, with turnout at 64.4 percent of eligible voters. Surveys of college students around the country, done in the weeks before the election, found 42 percent of students planning to vote absentee. Exit polls completely miss these young voters who numbered, this year, close to 3 million. • John Kerry won the under-30 set with 54 percent of the vote to President Bush's 44 percent. The Democrats lost every other age group. Without young Democrat voters, President Bush would have rolled to victory in Wisconsin and New Hampshire; Iowa and Nevada, too, would have been much bigger wins for the president.

8. Determinants of the Vote • Gender, age, race, education… • Most important issue • Moral issues 22%! • Terrorism 19% • Economy 20% • Iraq 15% • See Exit Polls for more detail

9. Senate Races • Republicans gained 4 seats • Total seats: R 55; D 44; I 1 • Daschle (minority leader) defeated by Thune in South Dakota • Salazar (D) defeats Coors in Colorado • Martinez (R) defeats Castor in Florida by less than 1 percent • Obama (D) defeats Keys in Illinios • Party changes in North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, South Carolina

10. House Races • Republicans gain 4 seats • R 231; D 200; I 1; 3 undecided • See CNN for details

11. Ballot Measures • Ban Same Sex Marriage passes everywhere it appears on the ballot • See CNN for details