Defining Moment: The Presidential Election of 2004

Set against the backdrop of the war in Iraq, drastically altered relations with traditional U.S. allies, intense partisanship, and a national debate over moral values, the 2004 presidential campaign presented voters with a clear choice that reflected deep divisions within the country. This collection analyzes this watershed election, and its likely consequences. The contributors examine every aspect of the election, including the strategies and tactics of the Bush and Kerry campaigns, voter turnout and policy consequences, campaign financing, and the power of incumbency. Part 1 The Context; Chapter 1 The Bush Presidency, William Crotty; Chapter 2 Constituencies and the Consequences of the Presidential Vote, Richard J. Powell, Mark D. Brewer; Part 2 The Presidential Campaign and Congressional Races; Chapter 3 Political Participation in the 2004 Presidential Election, M. Margaret Conway; Chapter 4 The Inevitable Unanticipated Consequences of Political Reform, Christine L. Day, Charles D. Hadley, Harold W. Stanley; Chapter 5 Financing the 2004 Presidential Election, William Crotty; Chapter 6 The Presidential Race of 2004, Patricia Conley; Chapter 7 Incumbency, Politics, and Policy, Jerome M. Mileur; Chapter 8 The 2004 Congressional Races, John S. JacksonIII; Part 3 Conclusions; Chapter 9 Holy Owned Subsidiary, Thomas Ferguson; Chapter 10 The Armageddon Election, John Kenneth White; Chapter 11 Armageddon, Just Another Campaign, or Something In-Between?, William Crotty;