Before Americans begin this evening's festivities, including watching states turn red or blue, commencing litigation proceedings and going out for small-scale looting, it's time for a fond look back. Below, a brief reminder of the race just over and a guide to understanding, perhaps, why neither candidate has been able to poll over 50%.
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The Primaries
"He would drive us deeper and deeper into deficit.... This is the same old Washington talk that people have been listening to for decades. They want something different."
John Edwards on John Kerry, at the Democrats' New York debate, Feb. 29, 2004.
"In the Senate four years -- and that is the full extent of public life -- no international experience, no military experience, you can imagine what the advertising is going to be next year. When I came back from Vietnam in 1969, I don't know if John Edwards was out of diapers then."
John Kerry on John Edwards, quoted in the Jan. 19, 2004, New York Times.
"We're going to South Carolina and Oklahoma and Arizona and North Dakota and New Mexico, and we're going to California and Texas and New York. And we're going to South Dakota and Oregon and Washington and Michigan. And then we're going to Washington, D.C., to take back the White House. Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah."
Howard Dean, addressing supporters after placing third in the Iowa primary. Jan. 20, 2004.
"Other than 'Sir,' no."
Former Gen. Wesley Clark, asked if he had a nickname, as quoted in the Feb. 2, 2004, issue of Time magazine.
"Joementum is alive and well."
Joe Lieberman, interviewed on CNN before coming in fifth in the New Hampshire primary. Jan. 27, 2004.
"Oh, no. Oh, no, no. Far from it."
John Edwards, responding to a question at the Democrats' New York debate about whether he was vying to be Kerry's running mate. Feb. 29, 2004.
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Campaign Blue
"I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."
John Kerry, Huntington, W. Va. March 16, 2004, in a speech.
"I don't fall down. That son of a bitch ran into me."
John Kerry, Sun Valley, Idaho, blaming a Secret Service agent for his tumble off a snowboard. March 14, 2004.
"Every performer tonight, in their own way, either verbally or through their music, through their lyrics, have conveyed to you the heart and soul of our country."
