2004 Presidential Campaign Blog

Presidential Inauguration Web Site

The website for the 55th Presidential Inauguration went live today. It is designed to assist members of the public as they seek tickets and information about President Bush's second inauguration and learn more about America's inaugural traditions.

Current Features include:

-- Remembering the 54th Inaugural. This feature includes a video featuring photos, and audio clips from President George W. Bush's first inaugural address.

-- Inaugural history. Learn how our inaugural traditions got started with the story of the first inaugural and facts about each inaugural since.

-- Request tickets online. This feature includes an online form for the public to request tickets to inaugural events.

New features will be frequently added as inauguration day nears.

Electoral College Web Site

The National Archives Office of the Federal Register coordinates the functions of the Electoral College on behalf of the Archivist of the United States, the States, the Congress, and the American People.

The Electoral College was established by the founding fathers as a compromise between election of the President by Congress and election by popular vote. The electors are a popularly elected body chosen by the States and the District of Columbia on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November (November 2, 2004). The Electoral College consists of 538 electors (one for each of 435 members of the House of Representatives and 100 Senators; and 3 for the District of Columbia by virtue of the 23rd Amendment). Each State's allotment of electors is equal to the number of House members to which it is entitled plus two Senators. The decennial census is used to reapportion the number of electors allocated among the States.

The slates of electors are generally chosen by the political parties. State laws vary on the appointment of electors. The States prepare a list of the slate of electors for the candidate who receives the most popular votes on a Certificate of Ascertainment. The Governor of each State prepares seven original Certificates of Ascertainment. The States send one original, along with two authenticated copies or two additional originals to the Archivist of the United States at the National Archives and Records Administration by registered mail. The Certificates of Ascertainment must be submitted as soon as practicable, but no later than the day after the meetings of the electors, which occur on the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December (December 13, 2004). The Archivist transmits the originals to the National Archives Office of the Federal Register (OFR).  

New 2005 Section Added to Inaugural Website

Washington…December 9, 2004 – Senator Trent Lott and the members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) are pleased to announce the launch of the new 2005 Inaugural section of Inaugural.Senate.gov.  This enhanced online resource will provide important and up to date information on the 2005 festivities while offering users a repository of historical information about inaugurals past.

The new 2005 Inaugural section will be continuously updated with information about the Inaugural ceremony and other Capitol Hill festivities, tickets, travel, accessibility, security and links to other Inauguration related websites.   The site has been designed to provide quick and easy answers to common questions about participating in the Inaugural Ceremony.

The addition of the 2005 section comes on the heels of the launch of an expansive new history section.  This section is already popular with teachers, students, and history and trivia buffs around the country.   Visitors to the history section learn exciting facts about past Presidential Inaugurations dating back to George Washington in 1789.  Links to photographs, video and audio from ceremonies have also been added.

Another new, recently installed feature is the Inaugural Webcam.  The camera, located on the west front of the U.S. Capitol grounds, will enable internet users to watch the construction of the Inaugural platform and other preparations for the historic ceremony.

“It is our hope that people will visit this website often for updated information on the 2005 ceremonies and take a fun look back at a rich history of Presidential Inaugurals,” said Senator Lott, Chairman of the JCCIC.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is charged with the oversight and planning of the Presidential Inauguration and related ceremonies on the US Capitol grounds.

"Your Stories" New Kerry-Edwards 2004 Online Video

Millions to See New Online Video as Part of Unprecedented Last-Minute Internet Push

Washington, DC – Taking one last opportunity to remind voters of the clear choice in this election, the Kerry-Edwards campaign today announced the new video “Your Stories,” and launched a comprehensive online effort to ensure an unprecedented number of individuals view it in the closing hours of the 2004 campaign. Through Banner Ads, Blogs and the Johnkerry.com email list, the video will be viewed by an estimated over 8 million individuals. 

“Your Stories” features John Kerry on the campaign trail talking about the people he met along the way and the people he will fight for in the White House.

This morning, the video is being emailed to Kerry’s online supporters, as a special thank you for their support throughout the campaign. These are the millions of individuals that helped Kerry raise over $80 million dollars online, have contacted more than half a million volunteers through Johnkerry.com’s online Phone Corps, participated in thousands of canvasses across the country and tomorrow, will be a vital part of John Kerry’s Get-Out-The-Vote effort. 

“Your Stories” can be viewed at www.johnkerry.com

“Your Stories” Script:

JOHN KERRY: It has been a great privilege to run for President. Your stories have become the work of my life. I’m here to put America back to work and live up to the values of our country.

I intend to fight for the middle class. I intend to fight for the people who are getting squeezed. I intend to invest in companies that make jobs here. We deserve a President of the United States who fights as hard for your jobs as he fights for his own job. It’s time for healthcare for all Americans that’s affordable and achievable.

We’re going to put the people back in the driver’s seat. Our true strength in the world comes from ideals, faith, fairness, the truth.

I will understand that the United States of America never goes to war because we want to, we only go to war because we have to. We need a new direction in Iraq, and I can run a more effective war on terror.

I will make America safer and stronger. I’ll never hesitate to use whatever force is necessary to protect the security of the United States of America. We know that we can make this country stronger here at home because we know we can restore America’s reputation in the world. This is a future for us if we have a President who wants to believe in the possibilities of America.

We can do better and we will do better.

NARRATOR: Tomorrow, November 2nd, vote for a new direction for America.  John Kerry for President

Bush Cheney '04 Web Site Redesign

George W. Bush 2004 Web Site Convention Edition

2004 Republican National Convention Web Site

NEW YORK -The 2004 Republican National Convention today unveiled a newly designed web site at www.GOPconvention.com where the American public can watch gavel-to-gavel live webcasts, access exclusive web cam angles of the floor, participate in video chats with program participants, and access a "W" blog page that will follow President Bush in the days leading up to his arrival in New York City.

Americans can take part in the new interactive site by voting on their favorite photo of the day, or grab a "backstage" pass to see web exclusive video of convention events, party leaders and delegates. The site will also launch "Win an NBA Game Ball" contest to enter any individual who signs up for e-mail updates during convention week in a raffle to win a NBA Game Ball signed by program participants.

"We want to make the 2004 Republican National Convention a truly national event and there is no better way to give Americans full access to the experience and excitement of the convention than through www.GOPconvention.com," said Bill Harris, CEO of the 2004 Republican National Convention. "The more that Americans feel a part of the convention, the more they will know about the president's vision to build a safer world and a more hopeful America. A greater sense of ownership will encourage them take part in the nation's political process."

Americans can stay on top of important developments and convention news throughout the day. At GOP Rewind, Americans can access 60-second video news clips recapping the previous night's speakers. Fifty-five individualized state pages will feature daily delegate diaries and radio actualities for local news outlets, while the Spanish page will feature Spanish webchats and an audio feed that will simultaneously translate the program into Spanish.

The Republican National Convention will be held for the first time ever in New York City at Madison Square Garden from August 30 through September 2, 2004. Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to visit the city for the event.

Bush Cheney '04 Web Site Redesign

2004 Democratic National Convention Web Site

Boston, MA - Since the opening gavel of the 2004 Democratic National Convention on Monday afternoon, the official Convention website has received more than 16 million hits from visitors across the globe.

Thousands of viewers logged on to the website, www.dems2004.org, to get up-to-the minute information, view live and archived video web streams, and participate in interactive video chats with Convention speakers. The website's servers have transferred an incredible 1.4 terabytes (1,400 gigabytes) of data to 242,303 computers.

The most popular area of the site has been the continuous, cutting-edge live video stream of the Convention stage. The DNCC website has served a total of over 157,000 video streams, accounting for 3,710 hours of total viewing time.

"It was our goal to make this Convention the most interactive in the history of the Democratic Party," said Rod O'Connor, CEO of the DNCC.  "The fact that, in just the first 24 hours of Convention week, this many people are tuning in and actively participating through the website is strong evidence that we're well on our way to achieving that goal."

In all, 1.4 million individual pages were viewed on computers around the world. At the busiest time, the website was receiving 400 hits per second and broadcasting 2,868 simultaneous streams.

More than 2,600 new people signed up to receive the DNCC "E-Delegate"email since Monday, joining thousands of others who will get regular updates of Convention action in their email inboxes.

Kerry Edwards 2004 Web Site Launch