Event: United States presidential election, 2004
Asami
Banned
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A History of Modern China and the World
Event: United States presidential election, 2004
A History of Modern China and the World
Event: United States presidential election, 2004
In early 2004, the stage was set for one of the most combative and 'revolutionary' American elections in years. The incumbent president, former Speaker of the House Herbert Bush, was attempting to wrangle his first elected term as President against both an internal party struggle, and that of a competitive Republican stage. In the Republican camp, by the time of the Iowa caucus in 2004, there were five main candidates. Hillary Williams was the expected front-runner, and former Presidential candidate for 2000. She was also a Senator from the State of Illinois, and one of the 'leaders' of the Republican Party. This was, by many, considered her 'final hurrah'--after her defeat in 2000, if she lost again, it would be unlikely that she would ever be considered Presidential material again. Donald Trump, a populistic liberal from New York had no government experience at all, but he vowed from the start that he would lead a charge to change America, and bring an end to the Islamic enemies that had her besieged. He pledged to get the assistance of 'all sorts of people in politics', and promised a unified and happy America under his purvey. He was countered in the 'left-leaning' Republican faction by Elizabeth Warren, a Representative from Pennsylvania, and someone whom did not shy away from attacking the environmental record of many fellow Republicans, and most Democrats.
Two other candidates on the field were Pete Wilson, former Governor of California, and Alan Keyes, a Conservative commentator and political analyst.
For the Democratic Party, Herbert Bush was facing a primary battle from notable Democrats. Lawton Chiles, the former Governor of Florida, was campaigning on 'more focus on the homeland from Islamic aggression' and 'rights of the states'. Similarly, William Blythe was campaigning once again for the Democratic nomination for the same reason. Andrew Cuomo, a former Governor and a New York politician, was campaigning for a 'transparency' in the White House. The Democrats didn't feel interested in fielding many other candidates, as most of the party rallied behind President Bush and his message of 'not changing ship mid-storm'.
In Iowa, President Bush won handily, without contest. For the Republicans, Williams got 40%, with Warren trailing at 31, and Trump at 18-- this was a big victory for both big-names, but their adversaries played down the affair, claiming it was just one caucus, and that time would prove them right.
When New Hampshire came about, Williams was handed a narrow defeat, as Donald Trump took 39% of the state's vote, with her at 31%, and her long-time rival Warren, at an abysmal 11%. New Hampshire largely voted down Warren due to her 'harping' personality and her lack of solid commitment to some issues, instead her flip-flopping everyone. Trump's populist and folksy appeal gained him the loyalty of the state, and with momentum, he moved onwards to Michigan; picking up the state and defeating Warren, whom got 25%, and Williams 24%.
Wilson and Keyes continued to duke it out for the bottom of the barrel, both men determined to hold out until the RNC in June. In Nevada, Williams gained back her momentum by shattering her opponents, picking up a whopping 53% of the state's Republican primary vote, with Trump trailing by a long way at 19%. This momentum, she expected to carry through South Carolina, Florida and Super Tuesday-- however, she was stopped cold, when Trump beat her by a 2% margin in South Carolina-- 31-29. In Florida, the margin was 3%, 28-25.
She levied her influence as a highly influential leader to campaign even harder and draw more money from Republican donors, however, her momentum failed to carry her through Super Tuesday-- despite making some bruising victories, she did not capture America's heart, and was defeated by 8% in the grand popular vote. Alan Keyes dropped out of the race after Super Tuesday, after he got barely any votes in any of the states, not enough to make an impact, at least. Pete Wilson would drop out some weeks later, with Elizabeth Warren, defeated and disappointed, but hopeful of the future, like 2008, retreating, and throwing in the towel as well.
Reduced down to a two-man race, the two candidates pounded each other into the dust up to the Convention. While Trump had a narrow lead in delegates, Williams was not willing to let go without a fight. After the first round of voting, Trump approached Williams with a lucrative offer that she may not be able to refuse. Whilst her delegates had not abandoned her, she did not have enough pull to get Trump delegates away, and she had only gotten a handful of delegates from Warren and Wilson-- so, realizing that it would not end well for the GOP if she did not respond, she agreed to Trump's proposal. At the end of the voting, it was determined that Donald Trump would be the candidate for the President of the United States, and Hillary Williams would be his Vice President.
The American media often painted the two as a 'partnership of unbelievable power'-- Trump's high energy, high ambition focus, along with Williams' resolute behaviour, would form a dynamic team in the White House that would be worth some interest. As well, it gave Hillary a potential to run again in 4 or 8 years, depending on if they won, and if Trump wanted a second term.
For the Democrats, Herbert Bush's own popularity waned after a number of issues about his checkered past came to light. Allegations of misconduct as a Representative, and a history of drug abuse before being elected to the House of Representatives, set the President back in many places, leading to his defeat in New Hampshire and Florida by his rival, Andrew Cuomo. However, the President rallied, and declared that America was 'beyond the reach of our enemies', and called for 'four more years of integrity and peace', he managed to keep Cuomo and Chiles at bay, running up into the Democratic convention some months later with an immense victory in his hands. So, as the election turned towards the general, President Bush and Donald Trump stared each other down in the field. Barbs were often traded, with both men making the occassional gaffe. Bush crossed the line when he questioned Donald Trump about his personal issues with his marriages, and his failed 2000 election bid under the National Reform party. Trump shut down the President's jab, saying that 'I've had my issues, of course-- we all have, but I fail to see where my disagreements with my wives has a bearing on my ability to govern this country. And yes, I did run in 2000. I ran because I had a vision for America, and I felt that myself and Mr. Gates could do a fantastic job at running this country, and I felt that we were well-equipped to do so. That has no bearing on today, when I stand for America's choice for a new leader, one whom will stand up to the Europeans and their aggressive fifth column actions. One whom will work with China and Russia, and ensure that they're given a fair deal as we are.'
Trump's handling of the Bush jab allowed him to soar in the polls. In October 2004, as the election approached, American and other Allied forces suffered a set-back that was quickly publicized. The death of thousands of American soldiers in an ambush outraged the public, whom demanded answers. President Bush was nearly tarred and feathered with the attacks from the media and from Congress. On Election Day, the furor of the setback and the now longer war against the Caliphate still stung in America's soul, and the worries about overt and growing European aggression both in the U.S. and their allies, hung over everyone's heads. It was time for a change.
It is noted that this is one of the more unique elections in which both Presidential candidates lost their home-state to the other. Bush won a narrow plurality in New York by 1.8%, and Trump won in Texas by 3.2%.
Two other candidates on the field were Pete Wilson, former Governor of California, and Alan Keyes, a Conservative commentator and political analyst.
For the Democratic Party, Herbert Bush was facing a primary battle from notable Democrats. Lawton Chiles, the former Governor of Florida, was campaigning on 'more focus on the homeland from Islamic aggression' and 'rights of the states'. Similarly, William Blythe was campaigning once again for the Democratic nomination for the same reason. Andrew Cuomo, a former Governor and a New York politician, was campaigning for a 'transparency' in the White House. The Democrats didn't feel interested in fielding many other candidates, as most of the party rallied behind President Bush and his message of 'not changing ship mid-storm'.
In Iowa, President Bush won handily, without contest. For the Republicans, Williams got 40%, with Warren trailing at 31, and Trump at 18-- this was a big victory for both big-names, but their adversaries played down the affair, claiming it was just one caucus, and that time would prove them right.
When New Hampshire came about, Williams was handed a narrow defeat, as Donald Trump took 39% of the state's vote, with her at 31%, and her long-time rival Warren, at an abysmal 11%. New Hampshire largely voted down Warren due to her 'harping' personality and her lack of solid commitment to some issues, instead her flip-flopping everyone. Trump's populist and folksy appeal gained him the loyalty of the state, and with momentum, he moved onwards to Michigan; picking up the state and defeating Warren, whom got 25%, and Williams 24%.
Wilson and Keyes continued to duke it out for the bottom of the barrel, both men determined to hold out until the RNC in June. In Nevada, Williams gained back her momentum by shattering her opponents, picking up a whopping 53% of the state's Republican primary vote, with Trump trailing by a long way at 19%. This momentum, she expected to carry through South Carolina, Florida and Super Tuesday-- however, she was stopped cold, when Trump beat her by a 2% margin in South Carolina-- 31-29. In Florida, the margin was 3%, 28-25.
She levied her influence as a highly influential leader to campaign even harder and draw more money from Republican donors, however, her momentum failed to carry her through Super Tuesday-- despite making some bruising victories, she did not capture America's heart, and was defeated by 8% in the grand popular vote. Alan Keyes dropped out of the race after Super Tuesday, after he got barely any votes in any of the states, not enough to make an impact, at least. Pete Wilson would drop out some weeks later, with Elizabeth Warren, defeated and disappointed, but hopeful of the future, like 2008, retreating, and throwing in the towel as well.
Reduced down to a two-man race, the two candidates pounded each other into the dust up to the Convention. While Trump had a narrow lead in delegates, Williams was not willing to let go without a fight. After the first round of voting, Trump approached Williams with a lucrative offer that she may not be able to refuse. Whilst her delegates had not abandoned her, she did not have enough pull to get Trump delegates away, and she had only gotten a handful of delegates from Warren and Wilson-- so, realizing that it would not end well for the GOP if she did not respond, she agreed to Trump's proposal. At the end of the voting, it was determined that Donald Trump would be the candidate for the President of the United States, and Hillary Williams would be his Vice President.
The American media often painted the two as a 'partnership of unbelievable power'-- Trump's high energy, high ambition focus, along with Williams' resolute behaviour, would form a dynamic team in the White House that would be worth some interest. As well, it gave Hillary a potential to run again in 4 or 8 years, depending on if they won, and if Trump wanted a second term.
For the Democrats, Herbert Bush's own popularity waned after a number of issues about his checkered past came to light. Allegations of misconduct as a Representative, and a history of drug abuse before being elected to the House of Representatives, set the President back in many places, leading to his defeat in New Hampshire and Florida by his rival, Andrew Cuomo. However, the President rallied, and declared that America was 'beyond the reach of our enemies', and called for 'four more years of integrity and peace', he managed to keep Cuomo and Chiles at bay, running up into the Democratic convention some months later with an immense victory in his hands. So, as the election turned towards the general, President Bush and Donald Trump stared each other down in the field. Barbs were often traded, with both men making the occassional gaffe. Bush crossed the line when he questioned Donald Trump about his personal issues with his marriages, and his failed 2000 election bid under the National Reform party. Trump shut down the President's jab, saying that 'I've had my issues, of course-- we all have, but I fail to see where my disagreements with my wives has a bearing on my ability to govern this country. And yes, I did run in 2000. I ran because I had a vision for America, and I felt that myself and Mr. Gates could do a fantastic job at running this country, and I felt that we were well-equipped to do so. That has no bearing on today, when I stand for America's choice for a new leader, one whom will stand up to the Europeans and their aggressive fifth column actions. One whom will work with China and Russia, and ensure that they're given a fair deal as we are.'
Trump's handling of the Bush jab allowed him to soar in the polls. In October 2004, as the election approached, American and other Allied forces suffered a set-back that was quickly publicized. The death of thousands of American soldiers in an ambush outraged the public, whom demanded answers. President Bush was nearly tarred and feathered with the attacks from the media and from Congress. On Election Day, the furor of the setback and the now longer war against the Caliphate still stung in America's soul, and the worries about overt and growing European aggression both in the U.S. and their allies, hung over everyone's heads. It was time for a change.
It is noted that this is one of the more unique elections in which both Presidential candidates lost their home-state to the other. Bush won a narrow plurality in New York by 1.8%, and Trump won in Texas by 3.2%.
