Bush and Kerry in Dead Heat as America Votes

Americans voted Tuesday in the first presidential election since the September 11 attacks, with up to 120 million ballots expected nationwide. Incumbent George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry both made final campaign stops, with polls showing the race in a statistical dead heat.

Long lines formed in key swing states, including Ohio and Florida. Five surveys gave Bush a marginal lead within sampling error; another showed Kerry ahead by two points, and one recorded a 48-48 tie.

Iraq dominated the campaign. Bush argued the invasion was central to defeating terrorism; Kerry called it a dangerous diversion. Both sides fielded roughly one million get-out-the-vote volunteers, while party lawyers stood ready to contest a close result.

Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were seen as the decisive states. Analysts noted the possibility of another split between the popular vote and the electoral college, or a 269-269 tie that would hand the outcome to Congress.

Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, cast the first ballots just after midnight, giving Bush a 19-7 margin, slightly down from his 21-5 result there four years earlier.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in November 2004, in its own words.