409,235 181,098 Start date November 2, 2004 | 68.4% 30.3% | |
 | ||
The 2004 United States presidential election in Idaho took place on November 2, 2004 throughout all 50 states and D.C., which was part of the 2004 presidential election. Voters chose 4 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for President and Vice President.
Contents
- Caucuses
- Predictions
- Polling
- Fundraising
- Advertising and visits
- Analysis
- By congressional district
- Electors
- References
Idaho was won by incumbent President George W. Bush by a 38.1% 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. No Democratic presidential nominee won the state since 1964. In 2004, President George W. Bush easily won the state and every congressional district and county, except the Democratic stronghold of Blaine County.
Caucuses
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: Solid Republican
- Associated Press: Solid Bush
- CNN: Bush
- Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
- Newsweek: Solid Bush
- New York Times: Solid Bush
- Rasmussen Reports: Bush
- Research 2000: Solid Bush
- Washington Post: Bush
- Washington Times: Solid Bush
- Zogby International: Bush
- Washington Dispatch: Bush
Polling
Only one pre-election poll was taken, which gave Bush 59%, Kerry 30%, and Nader 3%.
Fundraising
Bush raised $371,495. Kerry raised $359,011.
Advertising and visits
Neither campaign visited or campaigned here during the fall election.
Analysis
With a substantial Mormon population, Idaho is one of the most reliably GOP bastions in the country. Both senators and representatives are Republican. It has not supported a Democratic presidential canddidate since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Democrats have not held the state legislature since 1958, though Democrats did hold the governorship from 1971 to 1995. Voters tend to be extremely conservative on fiscal and social issues.
By congressional district
Bush won both congressional districts.
Electors
Technically the voters of Idaho cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. Idaho is allocated 4 electors because it has 2 congressional districts and 2 senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 4 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 4 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 Idaho. All were pledged to and voted for George Bush and Dick Cheney.
- Pete T. Cenarrusa
- Debbie Field
- Sandra Patano
- John Sandy