George W. Bush secured a second presidential term with 286 electoral votes to John Kerry's 252, once Iowa's results were finalized on Friday. Bush carried the midwestern state by roughly 14,000 votes, according to the Iowa secretary of state, adding its seven electors to his column.
The outcome had already been settled two days earlier, when Kerry conceded Ohio and its 20 electoral votes, pushing Bush past the 270-vote threshold required for victory. Bush carried 31 states in total; Kerry won 19 states plus the District of Columbia.
Only three states changed sides compared to the 2000 race. New Hampshire, which Bush had won four years earlier, moved to Kerry, while Iowa and New Mexico, both carried by Al Gore in 2000, went to the incumbent.
Bush claimed 51 percent of the popular vote, roughly 59.5 million ballots. Kerry received 48 percent with about 55.9 million. Independent Ralph Nader drew just over 400,000 votes, or 0.3 percent.
The 538 members of the Electoral College will convene in their respective state capitals on 13 December to cast formal ballots. Congress will open the sealed results on 6 January, and Bush is scheduled to be inaugurated for a second term on 20 January.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in November 2004, in its own words.