9 0 51.69% 47.02% | 1,101,255 1,001,000 Start date November 2, 2004 | |
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The 2004 United States presidential election in Colorado 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 9 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice President.
Contents
- Primaries
- Predictions
- Polling
- Fundraising
- Advertising and visits
- Analysis
- By congressional district
- Electors
- Failed election reform
- References
Colorado was won by incumbent President George W. Bush by a 4.67% margin of victory. Prior to the election, 10 of 12 news organizations considered this a state Bush would win, or otherwise considered as a red state. Although, both campaigns targeted it. On election day, Bush did carry Colorado, but only about half the 9% margin he won over Al Gore in 2000. Additionally, Colorado voters decided not to pass a referendum that would have split their electoral vote for this and future presidential elections. As of 2016, this is the last time that the Republican nominee carried Colorado in a presidential election.
Primaries
Predictions
There were 12 news organizations who made state by state predictions of the election. Here are their last predictions before election day.
- D.C. Political Report: Slight Republican
- Associated Press: Leans Bush
- CNN: Bush
- Cook Political Report: Leans Republican
- Newsweek: Leans Bush
- New York Times: Leans Bush
- Rasmussen Reports: Bush
- Research 2000: Leans Bush
- Washington Post: Battleground
- Washington Times: Leans Bush
- Zogby International: Kerry
- Washington Dispatch: Bush
Polling
Although considered a battleground state, Bush won every single pre-election poll in the state. The final 3 polls averaged Bush leading with 51% to 44%.
Fundraising
Bush raised $2,598,226. Kerry raised $3,229,631.
Advertising and visits
In the fall election campaign, the Republican ticket visited Colorado 5 times. The Democratic ticket visited 7 times. Bush and Kerry also heavily advertised each week. Bush spent just over $400,000 each week. Kerry spent over $500,000 each week.
Analysis
The key to Bush's victory in the state was winning the largely populated counties such as Jefferson County, Douglas County, El Paso County, and Arapahoe County. Although nationally Bush did better, his results in Colorado were lower than in 2000.
By congressional district
Bush won 4 of 7 congressional districts including one held by a Democratic representative..
Electors
Technically the voters of Colorado cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. Colorado is allocated 9 electors because it has seven congressional districts and two senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of nine 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 nine 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 were pledged to and voted for George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.
- Theodore S. Halaby
- Robert A. Martinez
- Lilly Y. Nunez
- Cynthia H. Murphy
- Sylvia Morgan-Smith
- Diane B. Gallagher
- Vicki A. Edwards
- Frances W. Owens
- Booker T. Graves
Failed election reform
There was a Constitutional amendment put on the ballot in the state to alter the way the state's electors would be distributed among presidential candidates, but was rejected by the voters in 2004.