Real People Tour - Missouri - James DeCamp Photography

The 2004 Presidential Campaign “Real People Tour”. The Real People Tour was a 10 state, 15 day traveling assignment covered by the Columbus Dispatch political team of Joe Hallett and Jonathan Riskind along with photographer James D. DeCamp, who tried to find the real stories and opinions of the ‘real’ people of America by traversing the presidential battleground states in the midwest and finding people in their element. These are some of those stories.

Husband and wife Miriam foreground, and Jerry Miramonti agree to disagree on their choice for president, kneeling next to opposing signs that they have in their Shrewsbury, Missouri front yard photographed Wednesday September 29, 2004 on day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

John Petterchak watches a fellow fan catch a foul ball near his left field seat at Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis Thursday night September 30, 2004 during day 7 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Eric Schoenberger talks with us in the left field seats at Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis Thursday night September 30, 2004 during day 7 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Lauren Becker, left and her cousin Jamie Whitney talk with us in the left field bleachers at Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis Thursday night September 30, 2004 during day 7 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Noel Ammerman talks with us at a concession stand at Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis Thursday night September 30, 2004 during day 7 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Traci Stark and her daughter Sydney, 3, talk with us from the window of their O’Fallon, Missouri home on Wednesday September 29, 2004 an day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Bob Sexton grabs his head in frustration about the candidates as he talks with us outside of his daughters O’Fallon, Missouri home on Wednesday September 29, 2004 an day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Bob Sexton and his ex wife Dorothy Sexton talk with us outside of their daughters O’Fallon, Missouri house on Wednesday September 29, 2004 an day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Sharla Hoyt talks with us as her two children Jackson, 3 1/2, right, and Regan, 17 months, in a parking lot in O’Fallon, Missouri on Wednesday September 29, 2004 an day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Percy Arban talks with us under the Arch in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday September 29, 2004 an day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Pamela Busch talks with us under the Arch in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday September 29, 2004 an day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Anthony Curry talks with us in Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday September 29, 2004 an day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Zack Meisel talks with us on Delmar Street in University City on Wednesday September 29, 2004 an day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Jim Kucsis and his daughter Liberty, 15 Months, talk with us on Delmar Street in University City on Wednesday September 29, 2004 an day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

Bush supporters Shannon Gorman, right, talks with us as her son Patrick, 14, plays with their Lab Lucy ion the front porch of their house along South Gore Avenue photographed Wednesday September 29, 2004 on day 6 of the 2004 ‘Real People Tour’ of middle America.

The United States presidential election of 2004, the 55th quadrennial presidential election, was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Incumbent Republican President George W. Bush defeated Democraticnominee John Kerry, a United States Senator from Massachusetts.

Bush and incumbent Vice President Dick Cheney were renominated by their party with no difficulty. Former Governor Howard Dean emerged as the early front-runner in the 2004 Democratic primaries, but Kerry won the first set of primaries in January 2004 and clinched his party’s nomination in March after a series of primary victories. Kerry chose Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, who had himself sought the party’s 2004 presidential nomination, to be his running mate.

Bush’s popularity had soared early in his first term after the September 11 attacks, but his popularity declined between 2001 and 2004. Foreign policy was the dominant theme throughout the election campaign, particularly Bush’s conduct of the War on Terrorism and the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Bush presented himself as a decisive leader and attacked Kerry as a “flip-flopper”, while Kerry criticized Bush’s conduct of the Iraq War. Domestic issues were debated as well, including the economyand jobs, health care, and moral values.

Bush won a narrow victory, taking 50.7% of the popular vote and 286 electoral votes. He swept the Southand the Mountain States and took the crucial swing states of Ohio, Iowa, and New Mexico. Some aspects of the election process were subject to controversy, but not to the degree seen in the 2000 presidential election. Bush was the first candidate of either party to win a majority of the popular vote since George H. W. Bush accomplished the same feat in the 1988 election, and the younger Bush remains the only Republican since 1988 to win the popular vote. His victory also marked the first time that the Republican nominee won a presidential election without carrying any state in the Northeastern United States.

Real People Tour – Missouri

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