2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina explained

See main article: 2004 United States presidential election.

Election Name:2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina
Country:South Carolina
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 United States presidential election in South Carolina
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 United States presidential election in South Carolina
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Image1:George-W-Bush.jpeg
Nominee1:George W. Bush
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Home State1:Texas
Running Mate1:Dick Cheney
Electoral Vote1:8
Popular Vote1:937,974
Percentage1:57.98%
Nominee2:John Kerry
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Home State2:Massachusetts
Running Mate2:John Edwards
Electoral Vote2:0
Popular Vote2:661,699
Percentage2:40.90%
President
Before Election:George W. Bush
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:George W. Bush
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina took place on November 2, 2004, as part of the 2004 United States presidential election which took place throughout all 50 states and D.C. Voters chose eight representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

South Carolina was won by incumbent President George W. Bush by a 17.08% margin of victory. Prior to the election, all 12 news organizations considered this a state Bush would win, or otherwise a red state. No Democrat had won this state since 1976. On election day, Bush won a majority of the counties and congressional districts in the state. The results were very similar to the state's results in 2000, and very similar to the results in neighboring Georgia this election, although Democratic Senator John Edwards of the bordering state of North Carolina was chosen as the vice presidential nominee. Bush won Greenville County, the largest county in the state, by a margin of 33.23%.

Democratic primary

South Carolina's was the first primary in a Southern state and the first primary in a state in which African Americans make up a sizable percentage of the electorate.

Election Name:2004 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary
Country:South Carolina
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary
Next Year:2008
Nominee1:John Edwards
Colour1:e50100ff
Home State1:North Carolina
Popular Vote1:131,174
Percentage1:44.86%
Nominee2:John Kerry
Colour2:00539fff
Home State2:Massachusetts
Popular Vote2:88,508
Percentage2:30.27%
Nominee4:Al Sharpton
Colour4:aa5f2f
Home State4:New York
Popular Vote4:28,201
Percentage4:9.65%
Nominee5:Wesley Clark
Colour5:039042
Home State5:Arkansas
Popular Vote5:21,011
Percentage5:7.19%
Map Size:205px
Delegate Count1:28
Delegate Count2:17
Delegate Count4:0
Votes For Election:45 pledged delegates to the
2004 Democratic National Convention
Delegate Count5:0
Outgoing Members:OK
Elected Members:MI

The Democratic primary was held on February 3, with 45 delegates at stake.[1] It was held on the same day as six other primaries and caucuses.

South Carolina's 45 delegates to the 2004 Democratic National Convention were awarded proportionally based on the results of the primary. The state also sent ten superdelegates.

As of the 2024 presidential election, this is the last time, in a non-incumbent Democratic primary, that the winner of South Carolina did not win the nomination.

Candidates

Withdrawn

Results

Key: Withdrew
prior to contest
South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, 2004
CandidateVotesPercentageNational delegates
John Edwards131,17444.86%28
John Kerry88,50830.27%17
Al Sharpton28,2019.65%0
Wesley Clark21,0117.19%0
Howard Dean13,8154.72%0
Joe Lieberman7,1472.44%0
Dennis Kucinich1,3190.45%0
Dick Gephardt6310.22%0
Carol Moseley-Braun5770.20%0
Totals292,383100.00%45

Campaign

Predictions

There were 12 news organizations who made state-by-state predictions of the election. Here are their last predictions before election day.[2]

!Source!Ranking
D.C. Political Report
Cook Political Report
Research 2000
Zogby International
The Washington PostWashington Post
Washington Dispatch
Washington Times
The New York Times
CNN
Newsweek
Associated Press
Rasmussen Reports

Polling

Bush won every pre-election poll, each with a double-digit margin (except for one) and with at least 49% of the vote. The final 3 poll average showed Bush leading 55% to 41%.[3]

Fundraising

Bush raised $3,113,641.[4] Kerry raised $533,966.[5]

Advertising and visits

Neither campaign advertised or visited this state during the fall election.[6] [7]

Analysis

South Carolina, historically part of the Solid South, has become a Republican stronghold in the past few presidential elections. Since Barry Goldwater carried the state in 1964, the only Democratic presidential nominee to win it was Jimmy Carter of neighboring Georgia in 1976. Since then, South Carolina has been a safe bet for the Republicans., this is the last election in which Charleston County voted for a Republican presidential candidate.

Results

2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina[8]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
RepublicanGeorge W. Bush (incumbent)937,97457.98%8
DemocraticJohn Kerry661,69940.90%0
IndependentRalph Nader5,5200.34%0
ConstitutionMichael Peroutka5,3170.33%0
LibertarianMichael Badnarik3,6080.22%0
United CitizensWalt Brown2,1240.13%0
GreenDavid Cobb1,4880.09%0
Totals1,617,730100.00%8
Voter turnout (Voting age population)51.8%

Results by county

County[9] George W. Bush
Republican		John Kerry
Democratic		Ralph Nader
Independent		Michael Peroutka
Constitution		Michael Badnarik
Libertarian		Walt Brown
United Citizens		David Cobb
Green		MarginTotal
data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" %data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" %data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" %data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" %data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" %data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" %data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" %data-sort-type="number" data-sort-type="number" %
Abbeville5,43654.77%4,38944.22%280.28%380.38%130.13%150.15%60.06%1,04710.55%9,925
Aiken39,07765.68%19,79933.28%1980.33%1450.24%1530.26%740.12%460.08%19,27832.40%59,492
Allendale98527.43%2,56571.43%60.17%70.19%110.31%130.36%40.11%-1,580-44.00%3,591
Anderson43,35566.99%20,69731.98%2240.35%1520.23%1600.25%750.12%590.09%22,65835.01%64,722
Bamberg2,13835.42%3,84163.63%50.08%330.55%50.08%110.18%30.05%-1,703-28.21%6,036
Barnwell4,60653.03%3,98245.85%180.21%510.59%120.14%90.10%70.08%6247.18%8,685
Beaufort33,33160.34%21,50538.93%2170.39%440.08%870.16%250.05%260.05%11,82621.41%55,235
Berkeley32,10460.65%20,14238.05%1510.29%3430.65%950.18%710.13%310.06%11,96222.60%52,937
Calhoun3,44849.83%3,39349.04%250.36%150.22%140.20%160.23%80.12%550.79%6,919
Charleston70,29751.57%63,75846.77%5880.43%9570.70%4070.30%1790.13%1300.10%6,5394.80%136,316
Cherokee12,09064.60%6,46634.55%620.33%290.15%300.16%210.11%160.09%5,62430.05%18,714
Chester5,79849.43%5,79049.36%460.39%300.26%260.22%320.27%70.06%80.07%11,729
Chesterfield7,25251.62%6,72947.90%290.21%120.09%140.10%60.04%70.05%5233.72%14,049
Clarendon6,06145.92%7,08753.69%210.16%120.09%90.07%80.06%20.02%-1,026-7.77%13,200
Colleton7,26451.50%6,69947.49%560.40%340.24%240.17%200.14%90.06%5654.01%14,106
Darlington13,41652.71%11,82946.47%520.20%620.24%470.18%280.11%200.08%1,5876.24%25,454
Dillon4,30146.57%4,83252.32%220.24%400.43%120.13%230.25%50.05%-531-5.75%9,235
Dorchester26,00662.94%14,73335.66%1480.36%2830.68%790.19%370.09%310.08%11,27327.28%41,317
Edgefield5,61157.57%4,05141.57%220.23%340.35%160.16%80.08%40.04%1,56016.00%9,746
Fairfield3,53137.42%5,76461.09%150.16%770.82%150.16%290.31%40.04%-2,233-23.67%9,435
Florence27,68955.89%21,44243.28%1370.28%650.13%1010.20%760.15%350.07%6,24712.61%49,545
Georgetown12,60653.43%10,60244.94%1520.64%360.15%570.24%1080.46%320.14%2,0048.49%23,593
Greenville111,48166.03%55,34732.78%6550.39%5660.34%4380.26%1690.10%1770.10%56,13433.25%168,833
Greenwood14,26460.85%8,95438.20%770.33%510.22%460.20%330.14%170.07%5,31022.65%23,442
Hampton3,09738.64%4,83260.28%110.14%580.72%70.09%90.11%20.02%-1,735-21.64%8,016
Horry50,44762.01%29,54736.32%3100.38%5750.71%1590.20%1020.13%2070.25%20,90025.69%81,347
Jasper2,93342.84%3,84056.09%280.41%80.12%190.28%110.16%70.10%-907-13.25%6,846
Kershaw14,16061.79%8,51537.16%760.33%480.21%610.27%370.16%180.08%5,64524.63%22,915
Lancaster12,91662.05%7,63136.66%1040.50%520.25%640.31%130.06%340.16%5,28525.39%20,814
Laurens14,46660.71%9,20538.63%670.28%440.18%310.13%70.03%90.04%5,26122.08%23,829
Lee2,90136.73%4,96062.80%100.13%40.05%60.08%100.13%70.09%-2,059-26.07%7,898
Lexington67,13271.85%25,39327.18%2950.32%1710.18%2550.27%1200.13%660.07%41,73944.67%93,432
Marion5,58941.38%7,76757.50%290.21%800.59%110.08%240.18%70.05%-2,178-16.12%13,507
Marlboro3,42339.99%4,98458.22%300.35%730.85%140.16%290.34%70.08%-1,561-18.23%8,560
McCormick2,39646.78%2,64851.70%110.21%60.12%80.16%30.06%500.98%-252-4.92%5,122
Newberry7,65461.68%4,48336.13%780.63%420.34%290.23%840.68%390.31%3,17125.55%12,409
Oconee18,81168.32%8,39530.49%1270.46%720.26%650.24%420.15%200.07%10,41637.83%27,532
Orangeburg12,69533.80%24,69865.75%650.17%530.14%290.08%140.04%100.03%-12,003-31.95%37,564
Pickens29,75973.46%10,28725.39%1410.35%1130.28%1300.32%550.14%250.06%19,47248.07%40,510
Richland56,21242.01%76,28357.01%4670.35%2270.17%3130.23%1740.13%1250.09%-20,071-15.00%133,801
Saluda4,53759.87%3,00139.60%240.32%50.07%60.08%10.01%40.05%1,53620.27%7,578
Spartanburg62,00464.08%33,63334.76%3000.31%3680.38%2260.23%1590.16%680.07%28,37129.32%96,758
Sumter18,07448.84%18,69550.52%740.20%410.11%640.17%320.09%230.06%-621-1.68%37,003
Union6,59255.24%5,23643.87%350.29%270.23%150.13%160.13%130.11%1,35611.37%11,934
Williamsburg4,79534.45%9,04464.98%250.18%130.09%190.14%150.11%70.05%-4,249-30.53%13,918
45,23464.45%24,22634.52%2590.37%1210.17%2060.29%810.12%540.08%21,00829.93%70,181
Totals937,97457.98%661,69940.90%5,5200.34%5,3170.33%3,6080.22%2,1240.13%1,4880.09%276,27517.08%1,617,730

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Results by congressional district

Bush won five of six congressional districts including one district won by a Democrat.

DistrictBushKerryRepresentative
61%39%Henry E. Brown Jr.
60%39%Joe Wilson
66%34%Gresham Barrett
65%34%Jim DeMint
Bob Inglis
57%42%John Spratt
39%61% Jim Clyburn

Electors

See main article: List of 2004 United States presidential electors.

Technically the voters of South Carolina cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. South Carolina is allocated 8 electors because it has 6 congressional districts and 2 senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 8 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 8 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 8 were pledged for Bush/Cheney.

  1. Katon Dawson
  2. Buddy Witherspoon
  3. Wayland Moody
  4. Thomas McLean
  5. Brenda Bedenbaugh
  6. Edwin Foulke
  7. Robert Reagan
  8. Drew McKissick

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2004 Presidential Democratic Primary Election Results — South Carolina . 2009-02-21 . U.S. Election Atlas.
  2. http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/members/2004/Pred2.htm#NW Members
  3. Web site: 2004 Presidential Election Polls. South Carolina Polls. US Election Atlas.
  4. Web site: George W Bush — $374,659,453 raised, '04 election cycle, Republican Party, President.
  5. Web site: John F Kerry — $345,826,176 raised, '04 election cycle, Democrat Party, President.
  6. Web site: America votes 2004: SHOWDOWN STATES: OHIO . . 2022-05-27.
  7. News: America votes 2004: Campaign ad buys . CNN . 2022-05-27 . 2021-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422073439/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/campaign.ads/ . live .
  8. Web site: Official General Election Results for US president (2004) . 5 . 2009-07-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090513011625/http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2004/2004pres.pdf . May 13, 2009 .
  9. Web site: SC US President Race, November 02, 2004. Our Campaigns.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.