On this day in 2004, George W Bush won a second term as president of the United States, beating his Democratic rival, John Kerry, by a comfortable margin. Mr Bush won about 51% of the vote and at least 274 electoral college votes against John Kerry's 48% and 252 votes. Results were still awaited in New Mexico and Iowa but they could not affect the outcome.Mr Bush's victory was announced after Mr Kerry phoned him at the White House to admit defeat. In a four-minute conversation, Mr Kerry congratulated the president, while Mr Bush called the Democrat "an admirable, worthy opponent". In his victory speech, Mr Bush said, "I am proud to lead such an amazing country and I am proud to lead it forward." He said tax reform, social security and education would be priorities for his second four-year term. He also said the US would "help the emerging democracies of Afghanistan and Iraq to grow in strength and freedom".
The result meant Mr Bush had a stronger mandate than four years earlier, when he won only after a 36-day legal battle over a recount in Florida. Florida used electronic voting machines this year to replace the punch cards which created so many problems in the last poll.
World leaders congratulated Mr Bush on his victory, although some warned of the major challenges facing him in the Middle East.
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