Kerry admits US election defeat

[Guest guest]

President Bush is expected to make a statement later

Democratic challenger Kerry has admitted defeat in the US

election, giving President W Bush a second term in office.

The Associated Press news agency reported that Mr Kerry had already

telephoned President Bush.

He will make a formal statement at 1800 GMT, and this will be

followed by a statement from the president.

The concession comes as final results are awaited in the key state

of Ohio, which holds the key to victory.

Results state-by-state

Q & A: Electoral College

Current projections give Mr Bush 254 Electoral College votes and

Senator Kerry 252. The winner needs a win in Ohio - carrying 20

votes - to push him to the 270 votes needed for victory.

The counted votes in Ohio give Mr Bush a lead of 136,221.

The delay in declaring the state a win for Mr Bush came about

because the Democrats said a large number of ballots remained

uncounted.

White House chief of staff Card said Mr Bush had postponed

making a victory speech, to give Senator Kerry " time to reflect " .

Number-crunching

The Democrats had argued there were a substantial number of

uncounted absentee and provisional ballots that could still clinch

it for Mr Kerry.

PROJECTED BUSH WINS

Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, West

Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina,

North Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota,

Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Montana,

Alaska, Colorado and Nevada.

Source: Associated Press

Latest figures show that, with 87 of the 88 counties reporting,

there are 147,570 provisional ballots as well as an unspecified

number of absentee ballots.

Provisional ballots are votes that have been cast in cases where

there is some doubt about the right of a person to actually vote.

They will not be counted until it is determined which were

legitimate - a process that officials said will take 10 days.

Votes are too close to call in two other states, but neither will

affect the final outcome.

In this election, President Bush received more votes than any

presidential candidate in our nation's history

Card

White House statement

In Iowa, problems with vote-counting machines in two counties will

delay results for at least one day.

New Mexico is also undeclared for either candidate.

Projections suggest the Republicans will strengthen their majorities

in both houses of Congress.

Daschle defeated

One third of seats in the Senate and the whole of the House of

Representatives are at stake.

Republicans look set to tighten their grip on the Senate, defeating

Democratic leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota and capturing a string

of seats across the South.

PROJECTED KERRY WINS

Minnesota, Vermont, Delaware, Connecticut, the District of Columbia,

Illinois, Maine, land, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,

Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, California, Washington, New Hampshire,

Oregon, Michigan, Wisconsin and Hawaii.

Source: Associated Press

Mr Daschle would be the first party leader to lose a race for re-

election in more than 50 years.

Projections put turnout in the presidential election at more than

115 million voters -10 million more than in 2000.

The projected vote showed Mr Bush leading Mr Kerry nationwide by

3.5m votes.

Chief of staff Card said he believed Mr Bush had won

with " more votes than any candidate in history " .

" We are convinced that President Bush has won re-election with at

least 286 electoral college votes, " he said.

The BBC's Nick Childs, in Washington, said the White House move was

a clear attempt to put pressure on Senator Kerry to concede.

I understand the electoral college system came under fire after

the 2000 election, but it is actually a solid system

, Cincinnati, OH, USA

US election: Have Your Say

Two US television networks - NBC and Fox - have called Ohio for

President Bush, but Mr Kerry's campaign has responded defiantly.

Mr Kerry's running mate , told supporters in

Boston: " Kerry and I made a promise to the US people that in

this election every vote would count and every vote would be

counted.

" Tonight we are keeping our word and we will fight for every vote. "

Mr Kerry is at his home in Boston while Mr Bush is at the White

House.

[Guest guest]

President Bush is expected to make a statement later

Democratic challenger Kerry has admitted defeat in the US

election, giving President W Bush a second term in office.

The Associated Press news agency reported that Mr Kerry had already

telephoned President Bush.

He will make a formal statement at 1800 GMT, and this will be

followed by a statement from the president.

The concession comes as final results are awaited in the key state

of Ohio, which holds the key to victory.

Results state-by-state

Q & A: Electoral College

Current projections give Mr Bush 254 Electoral College votes and

Senator Kerry 252. The winner needs a win in Ohio - carrying 20

votes - to push him to the 270 votes needed for victory.

The counted votes in Ohio give Mr Bush a lead of 136,221.

The delay in declaring the state a win for Mr Bush came about

because the Democrats said a large number of ballots remained

uncounted.

White House chief of staff Card said Mr Bush had postponed

making a victory speech, to give Senator Kerry " time to reflect " .

Number-crunching

The Democrats had argued there were a substantial number of

uncounted absentee and provisional ballots that could still clinch

it for Mr Kerry.

PROJECTED BUSH WINS

Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, West

Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina,

North Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota,

Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Montana,

Alaska, Colorado and Nevada.

Source: Associated Press

Latest figures show that, with 87 of the 88 counties reporting,

there are 147,570 provisional ballots as well as an unspecified

number of absentee ballots.

Provisional ballots are votes that have been cast in cases where

there is some doubt about the right of a person to actually vote.

They will not be counted until it is determined which were

legitimate - a process that officials said will take 10 days.

Votes are too close to call in two other states, but neither will

affect the final outcome.

In this election, President Bush received more votes than any

presidential candidate in our nation's history

Card

White House statement

In Iowa, problems with vote-counting machines in two counties will

delay results for at least one day.

New Mexico is also undeclared for either candidate.

Projections suggest the Republicans will strengthen their majorities

in both houses of Congress.

Daschle defeated

One third of seats in the Senate and the whole of the House of

Representatives are at stake.

Republicans look set to tighten their grip on the Senate, defeating

Democratic leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota and capturing a string

of seats across the South.

PROJECTED KERRY WINS

Minnesota, Vermont, Delaware, Connecticut, the District of Columbia,

Illinois, Maine, land, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,

Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, California, Washington, New Hampshire,

Oregon, Michigan, Wisconsin and Hawaii.

Source: Associated Press

Mr Daschle would be the first party leader to lose a race for re-

election in more than 50 years.

Projections put turnout in the presidential election at more than

115 million voters -10 million more than in 2000.

The projected vote showed Mr Bush leading Mr Kerry nationwide by

3.5m votes.

Chief of staff Card said he believed Mr Bush had won

with " more votes than any candidate in history " .

" We are convinced that President Bush has won re-election with at

least 286 electoral college votes, " he said.

The BBC's Nick Childs, in Washington, said the White House move was

a clear attempt to put pressure on Senator Kerry to concede.

I understand the electoral college system came under fire after

the 2000 election, but it is actually a solid system

, Cincinnati, OH, USA

US election: Have Your Say

Two US television networks - NBC and Fox - have called Ohio for

President Bush, but Mr Kerry's campaign has responded defiantly.

Mr Kerry's running mate , told supporters in

Boston: " Kerry and I made a promise to the US people that in

this election every vote would count and every vote would be

counted.

" Tonight we are keeping our word and we will fight for every vote. "

Mr Kerry is at his home in Boston while Mr Bush is at the White

House.

[Guest guest]

President Bush is expected to make a statement later

Democratic challenger Kerry has admitted defeat in the US

election, giving President W Bush a second term in office.

The Associated Press news agency reported that Mr Kerry had already

telephoned President Bush.

He will make a formal statement at 1800 GMT, and this will be

followed by a statement from the president.

The concession comes as final results are awaited in the key state

of Ohio, which holds the key to victory.

Results state-by-state

Q & A: Electoral College

Current projections give Mr Bush 254 Electoral College votes and

Senator Kerry 252. The winner needs a win in Ohio - carrying 20

votes - to push him to the 270 votes needed for victory.

The counted votes in Ohio give Mr Bush a lead of 136,221.

The delay in declaring the state a win for Mr Bush came about

because the Democrats said a large number of ballots remained

uncounted.

White House chief of staff Card said Mr Bush had postponed

making a victory speech, to give Senator Kerry " time to reflect " .

Number-crunching

The Democrats had argued there were a substantial number of

uncounted absentee and provisional ballots that could still clinch

it for Mr Kerry.

PROJECTED BUSH WINS

Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, West

Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina,

North Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota,

Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Montana,

Alaska, Colorado and Nevada.

Source: Associated Press

Latest figures show that, with 87 of the 88 counties reporting,

there are 147,570 provisional ballots as well as an unspecified

number of absentee ballots.

Provisional ballots are votes that have been cast in cases where

there is some doubt about the right of a person to actually vote.

They will not be counted until it is determined which were

legitimate - a process that officials said will take 10 days.

Votes are too close to call in two other states, but neither will

affect the final outcome.

In this election, President Bush received more votes than any

presidential candidate in our nation's history

Card

White House statement

In Iowa, problems with vote-counting machines in two counties will

delay results for at least one day.

New Mexico is also undeclared for either candidate.

Projections suggest the Republicans will strengthen their majorities

in both houses of Congress.

Daschle defeated

One third of seats in the Senate and the whole of the House of

Representatives are at stake.

Republicans look set to tighten their grip on the Senate, defeating

Democratic leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota and capturing a string

of seats across the South.

PROJECTED KERRY WINS

Minnesota, Vermont, Delaware, Connecticut, the District of Columbia,

Illinois, Maine, land, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,

Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, California, Washington, New Hampshire,

Oregon, Michigan, Wisconsin and Hawaii.

Source: Associated Press

Mr Daschle would be the first party leader to lose a race for re-

election in more than 50 years.

Projections put turnout in the presidential election at more than

115 million voters -10 million more than in 2000.

The projected vote showed Mr Bush leading Mr Kerry nationwide by

3.5m votes.

Chief of staff Card said he believed Mr Bush had won

with " more votes than any candidate in history " .

" We are convinced that President Bush has won re-election with at

least 286 electoral college votes, " he said.

The BBC's Nick Childs, in Washington, said the White House move was

a clear attempt to put pressure on Senator Kerry to concede.

I understand the electoral college system came under fire after

the 2000 election, but it is actually a solid system

, Cincinnati, OH, USA

US election: Have Your Say

Two US television networks - NBC and Fox - have called Ohio for

President Bush, but Mr Kerry's campaign has responded defiantly.

Mr Kerry's running mate , told supporters in

Boston: " Kerry and I made a promise to the US people that in

this election every vote would count and every vote would be

counted.

" Tonight we are keeping our word and we will fight for every vote. "

Mr Kerry is at his home in Boston while Mr Bush is at the White

House.

[Guest guest]

President Bush is expected to make a statement later

Democratic challenger Kerry has admitted defeat in the US

election, giving President W Bush a second term in office.

The Associated Press news agency reported that Mr Kerry had already

telephoned President Bush.

He will make a formal statement at 1800 GMT, and this will be

followed by a statement from the president.

The concession comes as final results are awaited in the key state

of Ohio, which holds the key to victory.

Results state-by-state

Q & A: Electoral College

Current projections give Mr Bush 254 Electoral College votes and

Senator Kerry 252. The winner needs a win in Ohio - carrying 20

votes - to push him to the 270 votes needed for victory.

The counted votes in Ohio give Mr Bush a lead of 136,221.

The delay in declaring the state a win for Mr Bush came about

because the Democrats said a large number of ballots remained

uncounted.

White House chief of staff Card said Mr Bush had postponed

making a victory speech, to give Senator Kerry " time to reflect " .

Number-crunching

The Democrats had argued there were a substantial number of

uncounted absentee and provisional ballots that could still clinch

it for Mr Kerry.

PROJECTED BUSH WINS

Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, West

Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina,

North Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota,

Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Montana,

Alaska, Colorado and Nevada.

Source: Associated Press

Latest figures show that, with 87 of the 88 counties reporting,

there are 147,570 provisional ballots as well as an unspecified

number of absentee ballots.

Provisional ballots are votes that have been cast in cases where

there is some doubt about the right of a person to actually vote.

They will not be counted until it is determined which were

legitimate - a process that officials said will take 10 days.

Votes are too close to call in two other states, but neither will

affect the final outcome.

In this election, President Bush received more votes than any

presidential candidate in our nation's history

Card

White House statement

In Iowa, problems with vote-counting machines in two counties will

delay results for at least one day.

New Mexico is also undeclared for either candidate.

Projections suggest the Republicans will strengthen their majorities

in both houses of Congress.

Daschle defeated

One third of seats in the Senate and the whole of the House of

Representatives are at stake.

Republicans look set to tighten their grip on the Senate, defeating

Democratic leader Tom Daschle in South Dakota and capturing a string

of seats across the South.

PROJECTED KERRY WINS

Minnesota, Vermont, Delaware, Connecticut, the District of Columbia,

Illinois, Maine, land, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York,

Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, California, Washington, New Hampshire,

Oregon, Michigan, Wisconsin and Hawaii.

Source: Associated Press

Mr Daschle would be the first party leader to lose a race for re-

election in more than 50 years.

Projections put turnout in the presidential election at more than

115 million voters -10 million more than in 2000.

The projected vote showed Mr Bush leading Mr Kerry nationwide by

3.5m votes.

Chief of staff Card said he believed Mr Bush had won

with " more votes than any candidate in history " .

" We are convinced that President Bush has won re-election with at

least 286 electoral college votes, " he said.

The BBC's Nick Childs, in Washington, said the White House move was

a clear attempt to put pressure on Senator Kerry to concede.

I understand the electoral college system came under fire after

the 2000 election, but it is actually a solid system

, Cincinnati, OH, USA

US election: Have Your Say

Two US television networks - NBC and Fox - have called Ohio for

President Bush, but Mr Kerry's campaign has responded defiantly.

Mr Kerry's running mate , told supporters in

Boston: " Kerry and I made a promise to the US people that in

this election every vote would count and every vote would be

counted.

" Tonight we are keeping our word and we will fight for every vote. "

Mr Kerry is at his home in Boston while Mr Bush is at the White

House.