2004 United States presidential election in Mississippi explained

See main article: 2004 United States presidential election.

Election Name:2004 United States presidential election in Mississippi
Country:Mississippi
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2000 United States presidential election in Mississippi
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2008 United States presidential election in Mississippi
Next Year:2008
Election Date:November 2, 2004
Image1:File:George-W-Bush.jpeg
Nominee1:George W. Bush
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Home State1:Texas
Running Mate1:Dick Cheney
Electoral Vote1:6
Popular Vote1:684,981
Percentage1:59.44%
Nominee2:John Kerry
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Home State2:Massachusetts
Running Mate2:John Edwards
Electoral Vote2:0
Popular Vote2:458,094
Percentage2:39.75%
Map Size:300px
President
Before Election:George W. Bush
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:George W. Bush
After Party:Republican Party (United States)
Flag Year:2001

The 2004 United States presidential election in Mississippi took place on November 2, 2004, as part of the 2004 United States presidential election. Voters chose six representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. It was the first presidential election since the 2000 United States census, after which Mississippi lost one electoral vote, reducing its elector count from seven to six, leaving Mississippi with the fewest electoral votes since 1848.[1]

Mississippi was won by incumbent President George W. Bush of the Republican Party with a 19.69% margin of victory over Democratic nominee John Kerry. Prior to the election, Mississippi was considered a state Bush would win with ease, or a red state. Mississippi has not voted for a Democrat since 1976, when Jimmy Carter carried the state., this is the last election in which Pike County, Copiah County, Oktibbeha County, and Yazoo County voted for the Republican candidate, as well as the last time in which the Democratic nominee has won less than 40% of the state's vote.

Campaign

Predictions

12 news organizations made state-by-state predictions of the election. These organizations published their predictions just prior to election day:[2]

SourceRanking
D.C. Political Report
Associated Press
CNN
Cook Political Report
Newsweek
New York Times
Rasmussen Reports
Research 2000
Washington Post
Washington Times
Zogby International
Washington Dispatch

Polling

Bush won pre-election polling by a double-digit margin.[3]

Fundraising

Bush raised $866,580.[4] Kerry raised $599,665.[5]

Advertising and visits

Neither campaign spent or visited this state during the fall campaign.[6]

Analysis

The last Democratic presidential nominee to win Mississippi was fellow Southerner Jimmy Carter in 1976. Due to its reliably conservative voting pattern, neither of the two major party candidates campaigned in the state.

Mississippi is one of the most racially polarized states in presidential elections. Black Mississippians almost uniformly vote Democratic, while white Mississippians vote Republican nearly as consistently. In 2004, 14% of white Mississippians voted for John Kerry and 10% of African Americans voted for Bush.[7] Kerry's main support lay in the western counties on the Delta and next to the Mississippi River.

Results

2004 United States presidential election in Mississippi[8]
PartyCandidateVotesPercentageElectoral votes
Republican PartyGeorge W. Bush (incumbent)684,98159.44%6
Democratic PartyJohn Kerry458,094 39.75%0
Reform PartyRalph Nader3,177 0.28%0
Libertarian PartyMichael Badnarik1,793 0.16%0
Constitution PartyMichael Peroutka1,759 0.15%0
IndependentRoger Calero1,272 0.11%0
Green PartyDavid Cobb1,073 0.09%0
Various partiesWrite Ins216 0.02%0
Totals-100.00%6
Voter turnout (Voting Age population)54.4%

Results by county

County[9] George W. Bush
Republican
John Kerry
Democratic
Ralph Nader
Reform
Michael Badarnik
Libertarian
Michael Peroutka
Constitution
Roger Calero
Independent
Various candidates
Other parties
MarginTotal
%%%%%%%%
Adams6,99645.20%8,42354.42% 270.17%140.09%30.02%30.02%130.09% -1,427-9.22%15,479
Alcorn8,63460.64%5,45438.30% 690.48%430.30%200.14%40.03%150.11% 3,18022.34%14,239
Amite4,14757.62%3,01241.85% 150.21%60.08%50.07%90.13%30.04% 1,13515.77%7,197
Attala5,01461.09%3,14538.32% 140.17%40.05%110.13%110.13%80.10% 1,86922.77%8,207
Benton1,96946.36%2,24552.86% 120.28%60.14%50.12%20.05%80.19% -276-6.50%4,247
Bolivar5,53536.16%9,63162.92% 320.21%120.08%660.43%160.10%150.10% -4,096-26.76%15,307
Calhoun4,13164.63%2,23434.95% 130.20%20.03%30.05%50.08%40.07% 1,89729.68%6,392
Carroll3,66465.52%1,90033.98% 40.07%150.27%10.02%10.02%70.13% 1,76431.54%5,592
Chickasaw4,19350.22%4,07848.84% 270.32%150.18%140.17%90.11%140.16% 1151.38%8,350
Choctaw2,69466.00%1,36633.46% 70.17%60.15%40.10%20.05%30.07% 1,32832.54%4,082
Claiborne95017.74%4,36281.46% 80.15%130.24%40.07%150.28%30.06% -3,412-63.72%5,355
Clarke5,06867.51%2,40232.00% 180.24%60.08%40.05%30.04%60.08% 2,66635.51%7,507
Clay4,34247.50%4,75352.00% 120.13%90.10%100.11%90.10%60.06% -411-4.50%9,141
Coahoma3,67634.65%6,80564.15% 120.11%780.74%130.12%140.13%100.09% -3,129-29.50%10,608
Copiah6,37455.95%4,96143.54% 180.16%130.11%130.11%70.06%70.06% 1,41312.41%11,393
Covington5,04461.12%3,15838.27% 220.27%80.10%70.08%80.10%50.06% 1,88622.85%8,252
DeSoto36,30672.30%13,58327.05% 1320.26%880.18%560.11%200.04%300.06% 22,72345.25%50,215
Forrest16,31861.01%10,22038.21% 1080.40%330.12%220.08%220.08%220.08% 6,09822.80%26,745
Franklin2,89364.42%1,57435.05% 90.20%30.07%40.09%60.13%20.04% 1,31929.37%4,491
George6,22377.78%1,72421.55% 190.24%80.10%120.15%110.14%40.05% 4,49956.23%8,001
Greene3,85072.66%1,42126.82% 160.30%40.08%40.08%30.06%10.02% 2,42945.84%5,299
Grenada5,87258.08%4,18041.34% 160.16%120.12%20.02%90.09%200.20% 1,69216.74%10,111
Hancock12,58170.41%5,10728.58% 1000.56%350.20%140.08%210.12%110.06% 7,47441.83%17,869
Harrison39,70362.73%23,07636.46% 2400.38%1040.16%640.10%420.07%590.09% 16,62726.27%63,288
Hinds36,97539.97%54,84559.29% 2260.24%1260.14%1580.17%840.09%860.09% -17,870-19.32%92,500
Holmes1,96123.39%6,36675.94% 90.11%40.05%60.07%220.26%120.14% -4,405-52.55%8,383
Humphreys1,67934.27%3,16864.65% 130.27%150.31%20.04%130.27%100.20% -1,489-30.38%4,900
Issaquena43945.26%51653.20% 10.10%50.52%40.41%20.21%30.31% -77-7.94%970
Itawamba6,83370.34%2,80228.84% 360.37%70.07%130.13%140.14%90.09% 4,03141.50%9,714
Jackson35,13468.79%15,57230.49% 1800.35%560.11%450.09%340.07%540.10% 19,56238.30%51,075
Jasper3,85548.13%4,11751.40% 160.20%90.11%10.01%50.06%60.07% -262-3.27%8,009
Jefferson63018.16%2,82181.32% 20.06%40.12%30.09%00.00%90.26% -2,191-63.16%3,469
Jefferson Davis2,66846.28%2,95951.33% 240.42%150.26%100.17%530.92%360.62% -291-5.05%5,765
Jones19,12571.72%7,39827.74% 680.26%80.03%460.17%130.05%80.03% 11,72743.98%26,666
Kemper2,10945.82%2,46553.55% 100.22%70.15%60.13%40.09%20.04% -356-7.73%4,603
Lafayette9,00458.46%6,21840.37% 760.49%500.32%150.10%60.04%320.20% 2,78618.09%15,401
Lamar16,41080.19%3,92319.17% 590.29%280.14%220.11%150.07%80.04% 12,48761.02%20,465
Lauderdale19,73665.42%10,29234.11% 610.20%280.09%120.04%250.08%160.05% 9,44431.31%30,170
Lawrence3,95662.73%2,30836.60% 200.32%80.13%50.08%50.08%40.06% 1,64826.13%6,306
Leake4,96260.41%3,21239.10% 160.19%70.09%50.06%50.06%70.09% 1,75021.31%8,214
Lee20,25466.11%10,12733.05% 1080.35%420.14%540.18%220.07%320.11% 10,12733.06%30,639
Leflore4,63537.19%7,56660.71% 350.28%260.21%1431.15%250.20%330.26% -2,931-23.52%12,463
Lincoln10,00869.04%4,41830.48% 280.19%130.09%120.08%100.07%70.04% 5,59038.56%14,496
Lowndes13,69056.41%10,40842.88% 680.28%360.15%260.11%200.08%220.09% 3,28213.53%24,270
Madison24,25764.29%13,26835.17% 770.20%480.13%410.11%210.06%160.04% 10,98929.12%37,728
Marion7,99966.95%3,88832.54% 260.22%90.08%40.03%130.11%80.07% 4,11134.41%11,947
Marshall5,97540.79%8,59158.65% 240.16%190.13%150.10%120.08%130.09% -2,616-17.86%14,649
Monroe9,30859.54%6,23739.90% 440.28%150.10%150.10%90.06%40.03% 3,07119.64%15,632
Montgomery3,00254.61%2,47344.99% 90.16%30.05%30.05%60.11%10.02% 5299.62%5,497
Neshoba7,78074.67%2,60024.95% 150.14%80.08%20.02%80.08%60.06% 5,18049.72%10,419
Newton6,16572.63%2,28026.86% 110.13%50.06%110.13%60.07%100.12% 3,88545.77%8,488
Noxubee1,72328.26%4,34671.28% 50.08%70.11%100.16%30.05%30.05% -2,623-43.02%6,097
Oktibbeha9,06855.67%7,01543.06% 830.51%370.23%490.30%140.09%240.15% 2,05312.61%16,290
Panola6,76950.36%6,61549.22% 210.16%160.12%30.02%110.08%50.04% 1541.14%13,440
Pearl River14,89676.44%4,47222.95% 600.31%230.12%150.08%130.07%80.04% 10,42453.49%19,487
Perry3,74774.49%1,26125.07% 50.10%50.10%50.10%30.06%40.08% 2,48649.42%5,030
Pike8,66052.07%7,88146.38% 410.25%190.11%80.05%140.08%90.05% 7794.69%16,632
Pontotoc8,48075.44%2,66023.67% 550.49%160.14%100.09%170.15%20.02% 5,82051.77%11,240
Prentiss6,53865.83%3,32733.50% 380.38%30.03%60.06%150.15%50.05% 3,21132.33%9,932
Quitman1,36039.79%2,03259.45% 30.09%70.20%30.09%50.15%80.24% -672-19.66%3,418
Rankin43,05478.67%11,00520.11% 1780.33%950.17%2380.43%800.15%760.14% 32,04958.56%54,726
Scott6,39562.52%3,80237.17% 90.09%70.07%70.07%30.03%50.05% 2,59325.35%10,228
Sharkey1,12036.21%1,56050.44% 521.68%742.39%481.55%943.04%1454.69% -440-14.23%3,093
Simpson7,13868.15%3,27231.24% 80.08%170.16%280.27%70.07%40.04% 3,86636.91%10,474
Smith5,57778.33%1,49621.01% 130.18%60.08%160.22%110.15%10.01% 4,08157.32%7,120
Stone4,14672.29%1,52826.64% 200.35%150.26%140.24%80.14%40.07% 2,61845.65%5,735
Sunflower3,53435.29%6,35963.49% 180.18%530.53%60.06%310.31%140.14% -2,825-28.20%10,015
Tallahatchie2,73744.02%3,42055.01% 110.18%240.39%40.06%100.16%110.18% -683-10.99%6,217
Tate6,76060.54%4,34738.93% 310.28%60.05%150.13%50.04%30.03% 2,41321.61%11,167
Tippah6,17466.57%3,01632.52% 340.37%150.16%120.13%190.20%50.05% 3,15834.05%9,275
Tishomingo5,37964.51%2,84634.13% 560.67%160.19%40.05%160.19%210.25% 2,53330.38%8,338
Tunica95030.36%2,14068.39% 60.19%140.45%80.26%70.22%40.13% -1,190-38.03%3,129
Union7,90673.08%2,83926.24% 310.29%170.16%130.12%80.07%50.05% 5,06746.84%10,819
Walthall3,88861.17%2,43538.31% 120.19%140.22%10.02%40.06%20.03% 1,45322.86%6,356
Warren11,35657.69%8,22441.78% 400.20%260.13%120.06%140.07%110.06% 3,13215.91%19,683
Washington7,73139.45%11,56959.03% 430.22%180.09%1010.52%600.31%750.38% -3,838-19.58%19,597
Wayne5,56263.24%3,19336.30% 150.17%30.03%120.14%30.03%70.08% 2,36926.94%8,795
Webster3,70873.16%1,34126.46% 60.12%10.02%50.10%40.08%30.06% 2,36746.70%5,068
Wilkinson1,56335.64%2,79463.72% 60.14%30.07%100.23%40.09%50.11% -1,231-28.08%4,385
Winston5,38657.21%3,97842.25% 190.20%30.03%50.05%140.15%100.11% 1,40814.96%9,415
Yalobusha3,27854.89%2,65644.47% 160.27%60.10%20.03%110.18%30.05% 62210.42%5,972
Yazoo5,67251.62%5,01345.63% 300.27%890.81%460.42%600.55%770.70% 6595.99%10,987
Totals684,98159.44%458,09439.75%3,1770.28%1,7930.16%1,7590.15%1,2720.11%1,2890.11%226,88719.69%1,152,365

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

Results by congressional district

Bush won three out of Mississippi's four congressional districts, including one held by a Democrat.

DistrictBushKerryRepresentative
62%37%Roger Wicker
40%57%Bennie G. Thompson
65%34%Chip Pickering
68%31%Gene Taylor

Electors

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

Mississippi was assigned six electors to cast votes to the Electoral college. Given that Mississippi voted for Bush, all electors were pledged to cast their ballots for Bush. The electors were:[10]

  1. Kelly Segars
  2. John Phillips
  3. Wayne Parker
  4. Jimmy Creekmore
  5. Victor Mavar
  6. Billy Mounger

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mississippi Presidential Election Voting History . www.270towin.com . 2019-10-19.
  2. http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/members/2004/Pred2.htm#NW
  3. Web site: 2004 Presidential Election Polls. Mississippi Polls. US Election Atlas.
  4. Web site: George W Bush — $374,659,453 raised, '04 election cycle, Republican Party, President. www.campaignmoney.com. 2016-09-22.
  5. Web site: John F Kerry — $345,826,176 raised, '04 election cycle, Democratic Party, President. www.campaignmoney.com. 2016-09-22.
  6. News: CNN.com Specials. CNN .
  7. News: CNN Election 2004. 2009-04-06 . CNN.
  8. Web site: 2004 Presidential General Election Results — Mississippi. Leip. Dave. US Election Atlas.
  9. Web site: Our Campaigns. MS US President Race, November 02, 2004.
  10. http://secure.sos.state.ms.us/ed_pubs/PressReleases/Articles/ElectoralCollegeMeets.asp