Party Nomination!!

Primary. Caucus.
Presidential primaries and caucuses are methods employed in the United States to narrow the number of candidates for each party before the general election. Presidential primaries are simply elections held by individual states in which people vote for the candidate they want to nominate to run in the general election. Primary elections have several variations. For instance, in some states a person can only vote for a candidate representing a party that corresponds to his or her registration, while in other states, primary elections are entirely open, allowing a person registered to vote against his or her party registration. A caucus is another form of an election, however rather than vote on a ballot, people must physically represent their vote by gathering together with other people who support the same candidate.

Kerry’s results in the Democratic Primary/Caucus for the 2004 election:
January 19th
Won Iowa with 38%

January 27th
Won New Hampshire with 39%

February 3rd
Won Arizona with 43%
Won Delaware with 50%
Won Missouri with 51%
Won New Mexico with 42%
Won North Dakota with 50%
3rd in Oklahoma with 27%
2nd in South Carolina with 30%

February 7th
Won Washington with 49%
Won Michigan with 52%

February 8th
Won Maine with 45%

February 10th
Won Tennessee with 41%
Won Virginia with 52%

February 14th
Won Washington D.C with 47%
Won Nevada with 63%

February 17th
Won Wisconsin with 40%

February 24th
Won Hawaii with 50%
Won Idaho with 54%
Won Utah with 55%

March 2nd
Won California with 64%
Won Connecticut with 58%
Won Georgia with 47%
Won Maryland with 60%
Won Massachusetts with 72%
Won Minnesota with 51%
Won New York with 61%
Won Ohio with 52%
Won Rhode Island with 71%
Won Vermont with 58%

March 9th
Won Florida with 77%
Won Louisiana with 70%
Won Mississippi with 78%
Won Texas with 67%

50 State Strategy??? Win Big Early??? Iowa???
Kerry won the Democratic Party Nomination in the majority of the states and Washington D.C. The percentage by which he won steadily increased as more primaries occurred. Also, as Kerry pulled ahead of the other democratic candidates, he received the endorsement of the candidates who feel behind such as Howard Dean. Through his consistent victories in the primary elections and caucuses between January and March, Kerry won his place as the Democratic Party Nominee for the general election even before each state’s primary election. As Kerry continued to win the primaries, he received more support, funds, and momentum while his fellow democratic candidates fell behind one at a time. Though he did not seem to target any particular states, not all of the primaries were necessary to determine his nomination. Therefore, a greater focus upon earlier elections states is logical, but it seems that Kerry was not soley relying upon victories at the early elections or the Iowa Caucus. Rather, it seems that Kerry was ready to campaign equally in states with approaching elections until he accumulated enough support to receive the nomination.