Bush Team Sees Big Progress with Blacks, Jews, Latinos
Senior officials of the Bush campaign are offering a new take on the election to US News and the Bulletin this morning. They argue that the country is not quite as divided as the television punditrocracy is claiming, and the initial exit polls sponsored by the TV networks did not reflect the extent of America's move toward conservatism. Among the Republican findings: Latinos increased their support for President Bush from 35% in 2000 to 44% in 2004; African-American support went from 9 to 11%; and the Jewish vote went from 19 to 24%.
These and other GOP exit poll results make Bush and his high command all the more confident that he did win a mandate and that he can expand conservatism's popularity over the next four years if he stays the course with a conservative agenda. One of the areas the Republicans admit they need to improve on, however, is with young voters. They find that 17% of citizens aged 18-29 cast ballots on Tuesday, the same percentage as in 2000, and Kerry won overwhelming support in this demographic. A senior Bush administration official says, "we have our work to do. But we're confident with issues like health savings account and social security reform we can win more of them over." –Kenneth T. Walsh, U.S. News
