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Bush Wins, Kerry Disputes Ohio

bush_victory Bush leads the popular vote by 3.7 million and is ahead of Kerry in Ohio by approximately 140,00 votes (3%) with 99 percent of the precincts reporting. While FoxNews and NBC News have both called Ohio in favor of Bush, several other news networks remain on the fence (notably, ABC News and CNN).

It is now clear the without Ohio Kerry can not win. Bush leads in Nevada by 3% and several news outlets have already called the state in his favor. This leaves Kerry with at most 264 electoral votes in the unlikely scenario that he wins all three of the remaining states that are too close to call (New Mexico, Iowa and Wisconsin).

With Nevada and Ohio, Bush is already beyond the 270 electoral votes needed to win the election. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Kerry (via Edwards) has vowed to fight for Ohio and his campaign representatives have asserted, "The vote count in Ohio has not been completed. There are more than 250,000 remaining votes to be counted. We believe when they are, John Kerry will win Ohio."

It is true that there are "as many as" 175,000 provisional ballots that have not been counted in Ohio. However, Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell has warned that counting them may two weeks [Reuters]. When they are counted, it will be necessary for 90% of them to be cast in favor of Kerry for the Democrat to make up his 140,000 vote deficit. Even if there were 250,000 outstanding ballots, Kerry would need 78% of them to tie Bush in Ohio.

Bush has won Ohio and the election. What remains to be seen is whether or not Kerry will put the nation through a roller coaster of legal maneuvering before conceding.

The Bush campaign has indicated that their candidate will declare victory shortly.

"We will not base our decision on a concession," said Bush adviser Dan Bartlett. After winning Nevada, another presidential aide said Bush would soon declare victory. [Associated Press]

I join Powerline's Big Trunk in congratulating President Bush on his victory today (hat tip: I used his photo of Bush above).

Updates:

Steven Taylor has called the election in favor of Bush.

Bill at INDC congratulates Bush.

While wearing pajamas, Instapundit writes, "Colour me shocked; I've been predicting it for Kerry for weeks now, and loudly proclaimed the race over around 3:00 this afternoon. I'd certainly never have predicted such a solid Bush lead with record turnout."

Stand in the Trenches comments, "Not again, please, not another Florida! And besides, he's behind by over 134,000 votes!"

Wizbang called the Election for Bush.

Captain Ed states:

Bush won an absolute majority of the popular vote, by more than three points, and took about a 30-vote majority in the Electoral College. Once the Kerry campaign learns to do math in the morning, this election will have little or no stigma attached to it, hopefully lightening the political mood for the next four years. Everybody voted, no one got chased from the polling station, and that means we can give up the conspiracy theories and the demonization that has poisoned our political processes for the last two election cycles.

Conservative Life congratulates Bush.

Kevin Drum comments, "In other words, it doesn't look like the provisional ballots are going to save Kerry. I know that conclusion won't be popular with my readers, but that's the way I see it. We'll know more by Wednesday morning."

Stephen Green says, "It's all over but the lawsuits - Fox is calling Ohio for Bush."

Andrew Sullivan says, "President Bush is narrowly re-elected. It was a wild day with the biggest black eyes for exit pollsters. I wanted Kerry to win." [hat tip: Beldar]

Hugh Hewitt writes, "Congratulations President Bush, the first president since his father to carry a pure majority of the popular vote."

LGF: Congratulations, lizardoids. We did it.

Call President Bush and do the right thing - TruthLaidBear

Posted by tim at November 3, 2004 1:27 AM

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