2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina

Main article: 2004 United States presidential election
2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina
← 2000 November 2, 2004 2008 →
 
Nominee George W. Bush John Kerry
Party Republican Democratic
Home state Texas Massachusetts
Running mate Dick Cheney John Edwards
Electoral vote 8 0
Popular vote 937,974 661,699
Percentage 57.98% 40.90%
County Results
President before election

George W. Bush
Republican

Elected President

George W. Bush
Republican

The 2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina took place on November 2, 2004, as part of the 2004 United States presidential election which took place throughout all 50 states and D.C. Voters chose eight representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

South Carolina was won by incumbent President George W. Bush by a 17.08% margin of victory. Prior to the election, all 12 news organizations considered this a state Bush would win, or otherwise a red state. No Democrat had won this state since 1976. On election day, Bush won a majority of the counties and congressional districts in the state. The results were very similar to the state's results in 2000, and very similar to the results in neighboring Georgia this election, although Democratic Senator John Edwards of the bordering state of North Carolina was chosen as the vice presidential nominee. Bush won Greenville County, the largest county in the state, by a margin of 33.23%.

Democratic primary

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South Carolina's was the first primary in a Southern state and the first primary in a state in which African Americans make up a sizable percentage of the electorate.

2004 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary
← 2000 February 3, 2004 (2004-02-03) 2008 →
← OK
MI →
45 pledged delegates to the
2004 Democratic National Convention
 
Nominee John Edwards John Kerry
Home state North Carolina Massachusetts
Delegate count 28 17
Popular vote 131,174 88,508
Percentage 44.86% 30.27%
 
Nominee Al Sharpton Wesley Clark
Home state New York Arkansas
Delegate count 0 0
Popular vote 28,201 21,011
Percentage 9.65% 7.19%
Election results by county. Red denotes counties won by Edwards, and Blue denotes those won by Kerry.

The Democratic primary was held on February 3, with 45 delegates at stake.[1] It was held on the same day as six other primaries and caucuses.

South Carolina's 45 delegates to the 2004 Democratic National Convention were awarded proportionally based on the results of the primary. The state also sent ten superdelegates.

As of the 2024 presidential election, this is the last time, in a non-incumbent Democratic primary, that the winner of South Carolina did not win the nomination.

Candidates

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Withdrawn

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Results

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Key: Withdrew
prior to contest
South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, 2004[1]
Candidate Votes Percentage National delegates[1]
John Edwards 131,174 44.86% 28
John Kerry 88,508 30.27% 17
Al Sharpton 28,201 9.65% 0
Wesley Clark 21,011 7.19% 0
Howard Dean 13,815 4.72% 0
Joe Lieberman 7,147 2.44% 0
Dennis Kucinich 1,319 0.45% 0
Dick Gephardt 631 0.22% 0
Carol Moseley-Braun 577 0.20% 0
Totals 292,383 100.00% 45

Campaign

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Predictions

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Elections in South Carolina
Federal government
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
State offices
General elections
Gubernatorial elections
State Senate elections
State House elections
Ballot measures
Charleston
Mayoral elections
Columbia
Mayoral elections
Rock Hill
Mayoral elections
Greenville
Mayoral elections

There were 12 news organizations who made state-by-state predictions of the election. Here are their last predictions before election day.[2]

Source Ranking
D.C. Political Report Solid R
Cook Political Report Solid R
Research 2000 Solid R
Zogby International Likely R
Washington Post Likely R
Washington Dispatch Likely R
Washington Times Solid R
The New York Times Solid R
CNN Likely R
Newsweek Solid R
Associated Press Solid R
Rasmussen Reports Likely R

Polling

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Bush won every pre-election poll, each with a double-digit margin (except for one) and with at least 49% of the vote. The final 3 poll average showed Bush leading 55% to 41%.[3]

Fundraising

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Bush raised $3,113,641.[4] Kerry raised $533,966.[5]

Advertising and visits

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Neither campaign advertised or visited this state during the fall election.[6][7]

Analysis

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South Carolina, historically part of the Solid South, has become a Republican stronghold in the past few presidential elections. Since Barry Goldwater carried the state in 1964, the only Democratic presidential nominee to win it was Jimmy Carter of neighboring Georgia in 1976. Since then, South Carolina has been a safe bet for the Republicans. As of the 2020 presidential election, this is the last election in which Charleston County voted for a Republican presidential candidate.

Results

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2004 United States presidential election in South Carolina[8]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage Electoral votes
Republican George W. Bush (incumbent) 937,974 57.98% 8
Democratic John Kerry 661,699 40.90% 0
Independent Ralph Nader 5,520 0.34% 0
Constitution Michael Peroutka 5,317 0.33% 0
Libertarian Michael Badnarik 3,608 0.22% 0
United Citizens Walt Brown 2,124 0.13% 0
Green David Cobb 1,488 0.09% 0
Totals 1,617,730 100.00% 8
Voter turnout (Voting age population) 51.8%

Results by county

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County[9] George W. Bush
Republican 		John Kerry
Democratic 		Ralph Nader
Independent 		Michael Peroutka
Constitution 		Michael Badnarik
Libertarian 		Walt Brown
United Citizens 		David Cobb
Green 		Margin Total
# % # % # % # % # % # % # % # %
Abbeville 5,436 54.77% 4,389 44.22% 28 0.28% 38 0.38% 13 0.13% 15 0.15% 6 0.06% 1,047 10.55% 9,925
Aiken 39,077 65.68% 19,799 33.28% 198 0.33% 145 0.24% 153 0.26% 74 0.12% 46 0.08% 19,278 32.40% 59,492
Allendale 985 27.43% 2,565 71.43% 6 0.17% 7 0.19% 11 0.31% 13 0.36% 4 0.11% -1,580 -44.00% 3,591
Anderson 43,355 66.99% 20,697 31.98% 224 0.35% 152 0.23% 160 0.25% 75 0.12% 59 0.09% 22,658 35.01% 64,722
Bamberg 2,138 35.42% 3,841 63.63% 5 0.08% 33 0.55% 5 0.08% 11 0.18% 3 0.05% -1,703 -28.21% 6,036
Barnwell 4,606 53.03% 3,982 45.85% 18 0.21% 51 0.59% 12 0.14% 9 0.10% 7 0.08% 624 7.18% 8,685
Beaufort 33,331 60.34% 21,505 38.93% 217 0.39% 44 0.08% 87 0.16% 25 0.05% 26 0.05% 11,826 21.41% 55,235
Berkeley 32,104 60.65% 20,142 38.05% 151 0.29% 343 0.65% 95 0.18% 71 0.13% 31 0.06% 11,962 22.60% 52,937
Calhoun 3,448 49.83% 3,393 49.04% 25 0.36% 15 0.22% 14 0.20% 16 0.23% 8 0.12% 55 0.79% 6,919
Charleston 70,297 51.57% 63,758 46.77% 588 0.43% 957 0.70% 407 0.30% 179 0.13% 130 0.10% 6,539 4.80% 136,316
Cherokee 12,090 64.60% 6,466 34.55% 62 0.33% 29 0.15% 30 0.16% 21 0.11% 16 0.09% 5,624 30.05% 18,714
Chester 5,798 49.43% 5,790 49.36% 46 0.39% 30 0.26% 26 0.22% 32 0.27% 7 0.06% 8 0.07% 11,729
Chesterfield 7,252 51.62% 6,729 47.90% 29 0.21% 12 0.09% 14 0.10% 6 0.04% 7 0.05% 523 3.72% 14,049
Clarendon 6,061 45.92% 7,087 53.69% 21 0.16% 12 0.09% 9 0.07% 8 0.06% 2 0.02% -1,026 -7.77% 13,200
Colleton 7,264 51.50% 6,699 47.49% 56 0.40% 34 0.24% 24 0.17% 20 0.14% 9 0.06% 565 4.01% 14,106
Darlington 13,416 52.71% 11,829 46.47% 52 0.20% 62 0.24% 47 0.18% 28 0.11% 20 0.08% 1,587 6.24% 25,454
Dillon 4,301 46.57% 4,832 52.32% 22 0.24% 40 0.43% 12 0.13% 23 0.25% 5 0.05% -531 -5.75% 9,235
Dorchester 26,006 62.94% 14,733 35.66% 148 0.36% 283 0.68% 79 0.19% 37 0.09% 31 0.08% 11,273 27.28% 41,317
Edgefield 5,611 57.57% 4,051 41.57% 22 0.23% 34 0.35% 16 0.16% 8 0.08% 4 0.04% 1,560 16.00% 9,746
Fairfield 3,531 37.42% 5,764 61.09% 15 0.16% 77 0.82% 15 0.16% 29 0.31% 4 0.04% -2,233 -23.67% 9,435
Florence 27,689 55.89% 21,442 43.28% 137 0.28% 65 0.13% 101 0.20% 76 0.15% 35 0.07% 6,247 12.61% 49,545
Georgetown 12,606 53.43% 10,602 44.94% 152 0.64% 36 0.15% 57 0.24% 108 0.46% 32 0.14% 2,004 8.49% 23,593
Greenville 111,481 66.03% 55,347 32.78% 655 0.39% 566 0.34% 438 0.26% 169 0.10% 177 0.10% 56,134 33.25% 168,833
Greenwood 14,264 60.85% 8,954 38.20% 77 0.33% 51 0.22% 46 0.20% 33 0.14% 17 0.07% 5,310 22.65% 23,442
Hampton 3,097 38.64% 4,832 60.28% 11 0.14% 58 0.72% 7 0.09% 9 0.11% 2 0.02% -1,735 -21.64% 8,016
Horry 50,447 62.01% 29,547 36.32% 310 0.38% 575 0.71% 159 0.20% 102 0.13% 207 0.25% 20,900 25.69% 81,347
Jasper 2,933 42.84% 3,840 56.09% 28 0.41% 8 0.12% 19 0.28% 11 0.16% 7 0.10% -907 -13.25% 6,846
Kershaw 14,160 61.79% 8,515 37.16% 76 0.33% 48 0.21% 61 0.27% 37 0.16% 18 0.08% 5,645 24.63% 22,915
Lancaster 12,916 62.05% 7,631 36.66% 104 0.50% 52 0.25% 64 0.31% 13 0.06% 34 0.16% 5,285 25.39% 20,814
Laurens 14,466 60.71% 9,205 38.63% 67 0.28% 44 0.18% 31 0.13% 7 0.03% 9 0.04% 5,261 22.08% 23,829
Lee 2,901 36.73% 4,960 62.80% 10 0.13% 4 0.05% 6 0.08% 10 0.13% 7 0.09% -2,059 -26.07% 7,898
Lexington 67,132 71.85% 25,393 27.18% 295 0.32% 171 0.18% 255 0.27% 120 0.13% 66 0.07% 41,739 44.67% 93,432
Marion 5,589 41.38% 7,767 57.50% 29 0.21% 80 0.59% 11 0.08% 24 0.18% 7 0.05% -2,178 -16.12% 13,507
Marlboro 3,423 39.99% 4,984 58.22% 30 0.35% 73 0.85% 14 0.16% 29 0.34% 7 0.08% -1,561 -18.23% 8,560
McCormick 2,396 46.78% 2,648 51.70% 11 0.21% 6 0.12% 8 0.16% 3 0.06% 50 0.98% -252 -4.92% 5,122
Newberry 7,654 61.68% 4,483 36.13% 78 0.63% 42 0.34% 29 0.23% 84 0.68% 39 0.31% 3,171 25.55% 12,409
Oconee 18,811 68.32% 8,395 30.49% 127 0.46% 72 0.26% 65 0.24% 42 0.15% 20 0.07% 10,416 37.83% 27,532
Orangeburg 12,695 33.80% 24,698 65.75% 65 0.17% 53 0.14% 29 0.08% 14 0.04% 10 0.03% -12,003 -31.95% 37,564
Pickens 29,759 73.46% 10,287 25.39% 141 0.35% 113 0.28% 130 0.32% 55 0.14% 25 0.06% 19,472 48.07% 40,510
Richland 56,212 42.01% 76,283 57.01% 467 0.35% 227 0.17% 313 0.23% 174 0.13% 125 0.09% -20,071 -15.00% 133,801
Saluda 4,537 59.87% 3,001 39.60% 24 0.32% 5 0.07% 6 0.08% 1 0.01% 4 0.05% 1,536 20.27% 7,578
Spartanburg 62,004 64.08% 33,633 34.76% 300 0.31% 368 0.38% 226 0.23% 159 0.16% 68 0.07% 28,371 29.32% 96,758
Sumter 18,074 48.84% 18,695 50.52% 74 0.20% 41 0.11% 64 0.17% 32 0.09% 23 0.06% -621 -1.68% 37,003
Union 6,592 55.24% 5,236 43.87% 35 0.29% 27 0.23% 15 0.13% 16 0.13% 13 0.11% 1,356 11.37% 11,934
Williamsburg 4,795 34.45% 9,044 64.98% 25 0.18% 13 0.09% 19 0.14% 15 0.11% 7 0.05% -4,249 -30.53% 13,918
York 45,234 64.45% 24,226 34.52% 259 0.37% 121 0.17% 206 0.29% 81 0.12% 54 0.08% 21,008 29.93% 70,181
Totals 937,974 57.98% 661,699 40.90% 5,520 0.34% 5,317 0.33% 3,608 0.22% 2,124 0.13% 1,488 0.09% 276,275 17.08% 1,617,730
County Flips:

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

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Results by congressional district

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Bush won five of six congressional districts including one district won by a Democrat.

District Bush Kerry Representative
1st 61% 39% Henry E. Brown Jr.
2nd 60% 39% Joe Wilson
3rd 66% 34% Gresham Barrett
4th 65% 34% Jim DeMint
Bob Inglis
5th 57% 42% John Spratt
6th 39% 61% Jim Clyburn

Electors

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Main article: List of 2004 United States presidential electors

Technically the voters of South Carolina cast their ballots for electors: representatives to the Electoral College. South Carolina is allocated 8 electors because it has 6 congressional districts and 2 senators. All candidates who appear on the ballot or qualify to receive write-in votes must submit a list of 8 electors, who pledge to vote for their candidate and his or her running mate. Whoever wins the majority of votes in the state is awarded all 8 electoral votes. Their chosen electors then vote for president and vice president. Although electors are pledged to their candidate and running mate, they are not obligated to vote for them. An elector who votes for someone other than his or her candidate is known as a faithless elector.

The electors of each state and the District of Columbia met on December 13, 2004, to cast their votes for president and vice president. The Electoral College itself never meets as one body. Instead the electors from each state and the District of Columbia met in their respective capitols.

The following were the members of the Electoral College from the state. All 8 were pledged for Bush/Cheney.

  1. Katon Dawson
  2. Buddy Witherspoon
  3. Wayland Moody
  4. Thomas McLean
  5. Brenda Bedenbaugh
  6. Edwin Foulke
  7. Robert Reagan
  8. Drew McKissick

References

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  1. ^ a b c "2004 Presidential Democratic Primary Election Results — South Carolina". U.S. Election Atlas. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  2. ^ Members DC Political Report [permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "2004 Presidential Election Polls. South Carolina Polls". US Election Atlas.
  4. ^ "George W Bush — $374,659,453 raised, '04 election cycle, Republican Party, President".
  5. ^ "John F Kerry — $345,826,176 raised, '04 election cycle, Democrat Party, President".
  6. ^ "America votes 2004: SHOWDOWN STATES: OHIO". CNN. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "America votes 2004: Campaign ad buys". CNN. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  8. ^ "Official General Election Results for US president (2004)" (PDF). p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 13, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  9. ^ "SC US President Race, November 02, 2004". Our Campaigns.
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