Issue Watch
Track global public opinion on current issues.
- 2008: Race for the White House
- Abortion
- Africa
- Angela Merkel
- Death Penalty
- Economy and Globalization
- Environment
- European Union
- George W. Bush
- Global Warming
- Gordon Brown
- Hamas
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- Italy Election 2008
- Kevin Rudd
- Latin America
- Nicolas Sarkozy
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- Same-Sex Marriage
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- U.S. Election 2008 - The Democrats
- U.S. Election 2008 - The Republicans
- U.S. Election 2008: The Primaries
- Vladimir Putin
- Yasuo Fukuda
Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
Bush Won Fairly, But Americans Divided
(CPOD) Nov. 4, 2004 - Most Americans believe Republican incumbent George W. Bush earned re-election justly, according to a poll by Gallup released by CNN and USA Today. 74 per cent of respondents say the United States president won the Nov. 2 election "fair and square."
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. Yesterday, Democratic nominee John Kerry conceded defeat after Bush secured at least 274 electoral votes from 29 states.
In the 2000 presidential election, the recipient of Florida's 27 electoral votes was in limbo for weeks. A series of recounts and court injunctions concluded in a 537-vote victory for Bush over Democrat Al Gore. In December 2000, only 48 per cent of respondents thought Bush had justly won the election.
Reactions to the outcome of the presidential race exhibit some divisions in the country. 51 per cent of respondents are pleased with the result, while 38 per cent feel upset. Bush will be sworn in for his second four-year term on Jan. 20, 2005.
Polling Data
Which comes closest to your view of the way George W. Bush won this election: he won fair and square, he won, but only on a technicality, or he stole the election?
Nov. 2004 | Dec. 2000 | |
Won fair and square | 74% | 48% |
Won on technicality | 10% | 32% |
Stole the election | 13% | 18% |
No opinion | 3% | 2% |
Which of the following best describes your reaction to the outcome of the presidential election: very pleased, pleased, it doesn't matter to you one way or the other, upset, or very upset?
Very Pleased | 33% |
Pleased | 18% |
Doesn't matter | 9% |
Upset | 18% |
Very Upset | 20% |
No opinion | 2% |
Source: Gallup / CNN / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 621 American adults, conducted on Nov. 3, 2004. Margin of error is 4 per cent.