After the election: Soothing bitterness, analyzing votes

Published: 2004-11-03

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- As the second razor-thin presidential election in a row was called Nov. 3 for President George W. Bush, analysts scrambled to interpret the results while others looked ahead to soothing bitter partisanship from the campaign. In his concession speech at Boston's Faneuil Hall, the Democratic nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, said he and Bush "talked about the danger of division in our country and the need -- the desperate need -- for unity, for finding common ground and coming together. Today, I hope we can begin the healing," he said. Kerry said he told Bush that "America is in need of unity and longing for a larger measure of compassion. I hope President Bush will advance those values in the coming years." Later in the day in a speech in Washington, Bush pledged to seek the support of Kerry's voters during his second term, according to an Associated Press report. "America has spoken, and I'm humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens," he said. "With that trust comes a duty to serve all Americans. And I will do my best to fulfill that duty every day as your president."

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