The 2004 election in Virginia saw visits from Democratic candidate John Kerry and his running mate John Edwards, millions in Democratic advertising and talk from Democratic Gov. Mark R. Warner that Kerry had a shot at winning the state's 13 electoral votes.
In the end, however, President George W. Bush carried the state by 8 percentage points, the same margin of victory as in 2000, and won the 10th straight victory by a Republican presidential candidate in Virginia.
According to Politics Prof. Larry J. Sabato, early polling giving Bush a lead of only one to three points as well as the urging of Warner led the Kerry campaign to invest resources in the state.
But the polls, conducted around June and July, showed Bush at his weakest both in Virginia and around the country, Sabato said.
"He was losing in lots of places that he actually won Tuesday night," Sabato said.
As a result, the Democratic effort in Virginia was wasted, Sabato said.
"They wasted millions of dollars that they should have spent in Iowa, Ohio and New Mexico," he said.
Neither of Virginia's senators was up for re-election in 2004. Republicans maintained their 8-3 advantage in Virginia's delegation to the House of Representatives. In the only race not featuring an incumbent, Republican candidate Thelma Drake defeated Democratic candidate David Ashe. One bright spot for Democrats: Kerry won Albemarle County locally as well as populous Fairfax County in Northern Virginia, two counties Bush carried in 2000.
The next presidential election won't be for another four years, but both parties are preparing for the 2005 gubernatorial race, which likely will pit Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine against Republican Attorney General Jerry Kilgore.
Shawn Smith, communications director for the Virginia Republican Party, said the results were damaging for Warner and Kaine.
"The top two elected officials in the Virginia Democratic Party put their personal credibility and political organizations on the line, and they failed miserably," Smith said.
Neither Laura Bland, communications director for the Virginia Democratic Party, nor Ellen Qualls, Warner's spokesperson, could be reached for comment yesterday.
While the results confirm the Republican nature of Virginia's electorate, they will not affect the governor's race, Sabato said.
"Next year is a very separate election for a very unique office," Sabato said. "Nobody will even remember this election by the time we get to November 2005."
Read More
Bert Ellis reflects on time as member of Board of Visitors
By Cecilia Mould | 3 hours agoWhile Ellis entered the Board with certain priorities in mind, he said that most had not been accomplished during his term, without a majority of Youngkin appointees on the Board.
Visa status restored for one international student and two recent University graduates
By Jackie Bond | YesterdayAccording to a statement from University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover, the University learned of the visa terminations of the current student and two alumni April 4
Students react to President Ryan signing national letter defending higher education
By Brendon Bordwine | 2 days agoWhile some students praised the move as a stand for academic freedom, others questioned its impact amid recent DEI rollbacks and safety concerns
