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Article: Election shaped by 'moral values'
- Article from:
- Deseret News (Salt Lake City)
- Article date:
- November 4, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2004 Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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WASHINGTON -- Forget Iraq. Forget terrorism. Forget the economy.
The biggest factor shaping people's votes Tuesday was the mother of
all sleeper issues -- "moral values."
In nationwide exit polls, one in five voters said moral values
were the most important issue in casting their votes, outpacing every
other major topic. Those "values" voters overwhelmingly went for
President Bush over Sen. John Kerry, 79 percent to 18 percent.
The stronger-than-expected role of moral values signals that the
nation's values agenda is likely to be dominated by "social morality"
concerns for abortion, gay marriage and stem-cell research -- issues
vital to Bush's base. The election also marks a defeat for