The election

The (Quincy, Mass.) Patriot Ledger

... (Senator Kerry) could see that even with more than 100,000 absentee and provisional ballots to be counted in Ohio, the odds were against reversing a Bush victory. In late morning Kerry called the White House to concede the election.

... By any measure, Tuesday was a very bad day for Democrats. Along with Bush's 3 million-vote margin in the popular vote, Republicans gained seats in both houses of Congress. They had a huge psychological and strategic win in South Dakota, knocking off the Senate Democratic leader, Tom Daschle.

... Social issues were highly significant for the president's victory. ...

... Ohio was telling. In a state that lost a quarter-million jobs on Bush's watch, social issues would appear to have tipped the balance in the president's favor. Ohio was one of 11 states with a ballot question on what constitutes a marriage, a subject sure to draw social conservatives to the polls to vote for Bush.

... When the voting details are dissected state by state, it may be that the gay marriage issue was the key variable in a tight election. ...