United_States_presidential_election,_2004

context: Bush's margin of victory in the popular vote was the smallest ever for a reelected incumbent president, but marked the first time since his father's victory 16 years prior that a candidate won a majority of the popular vote. The electoral map closely resembled that of 2000, with only three states changing sides: New Mexico and Iowa voted Republican in 2004 after having voted Democratic in 2000, while New Hampshire voted Democratic in 2004 after previously voting Republican. In the Electoral College, Bush received 286 votes to Kerry's 252.
qas: answers: three
question: How many States renounced their preferred political party?

answers: New Hampshire
question: Which state switched sides and embraced the Democratic party after previously choosing the Republican party?

answers: 252
question: How many votes did Kerry receive, in the Electoral College?

answers: the smallest ever
question: How large of a gap was there between Bush's and Kerry's votes? 

answers: Bush
question: Which candidate, in the 2004 election, had the majority of the popular vote?

context: Just eight months into his presidency, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 suddenly transformed Bush into a wartime president. Bush's approval ratings surged to near 90%. Within a month, the forces of a coalition led by the United States entered Afghanistan, which had been sheltering Osama bin Laden, suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks. By December, the Taliban had been removed as rulers of Kabul, although a long and ongoing reconstruction would follow, severely hampered by ongoing turmoil and violence within the country.
qas: answers: terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
question: What even occured during Bush's presidency that made him become a wartime president?

answers: eight months
question: How long into Bush's presidency did tragedy occur on American soil?

answers: surged to near 90%
question: Did Bush become disfavorable during the time of the 9/11 attacks?

answers: Within a month
question: How long did it take for the US military to respond by infiltrating Afghanistan?

answers: December
question: By which month, were the Taliban no longer controlling Kabul?

context: The Bush administration then turned its attention to Iraq, and argued the need to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq had become urgent. Among the stated reasons were that Saddam's regime had tried to acquire nuclear material and had not properly accounted for biological and chemical material it was known to have previously possessed, and believed to still maintain. Both the possession of these weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and the failure to account for them, would violate the U.N. sanctions. The assertion about WMD was hotly advanced by the Bush administration from the beginning, but other major powers including China, France, Germany, and Russia remained unconvinced that Iraq was a threat and refused to allow passage of a UN Security Council resolution to authorize the use of force. Iraq permitted UN weapon inspectors in November 2002, who were continuing their work to assess the WMD claim when the Bush administration decided to proceed with war without UN authorization and told the inspectors to leave the country. The United States invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003, along with a "coalition of the willing" that consisted of additional troops from the United Kingdom, and to a lesser extent, from Australia and Poland. Within about three weeks, the invasion caused the collapse of both the Iraqi government and its armed forces, however, the U.S. and allied forces failed to find any weapon of mass destruction in Iraq. Traces of former materials and weapons labs were reported to have been located, but no "smoking guns". Nevertheless, on May 1, George W. Bush landed on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, in a Lockheed S-3 Viking, where he gave a speech announcing the end of "major combat operations" in the Iraq War. Bush's approval rating in May was at 66%, according to a CNN–USA Today–Gallup poll. However, Bush's high approval ratings did not last. First, while the war itself was popular in the U.S., the reconstruction and attempted "democratization" of Iraq lost some support as months passed and casualty figures increased, with no decrease in violence nor progress toward stability or reconstruction. Second, as investigators combed through the country, they failed to find the predicted WMD stockpiles, which led to debate over the rationale for the war.
qas: answers: Saddam Hussein
question: Who did Bush feel was important to remove from power, after removing the Taliban from Kabul?

answers: weapons of mass destruction
question: What does WMD stand for?

answers: November 2002
question: When did Iraq agree to allow UN inspectors into the country to check for weapons of mass destruction?

answers: without UN authorization
question: Did Bush have the support of the UN, when he decided to infiltrate Iraq on March 20, 2003?

answers: they failed to find the predicted WMD stockpiles
question: After the Iraqi government and it's forces were defeated, were investigators able to locate the WMD?

context: On March 10, 2004, Bush officially clinched the number of delegates needed to be nominated at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. Bush accepted the nomination on September 2, 2004, and selected Vice President Dick Cheney as his running mate. (In New York, the ticket was also on the ballot as candidates of the Conservative Party of New York State.) During the convention and throughout the campaign, Bush focused on two themes: defending America against terrorism and building an ownership society. The ownership society included allowing people to invest some of their Social Security in the stock market, increasing home and stock ownership, and encouraging more people to buy their own health insurance.
qas: answers: March 10, 2004
question: By what date did Bush obtain the number of votes required to become the 2004 Republican nominee?

answers: September 2, 2004
question: When did Bush accept the Republican nomination?

answers: Dick Cheney
question: Whom did Bush want to stand beside him as Vice President?

answers: terrorism and building an ownership society
question: Which two topics did Bush remain steadfast on, during his campaign?

answers: Conservative Party
question: In New York State, which party was the Bush/Cheney duo candidates of?

context: By summer of 2003, Howard Dean had become the apparent front runner for the Democratic nomination, performing strongly in most polls and leading the pack with the largest campaign war chest. Dean's strength as a fund raiser was attributed mainly to his embrace of the Internet for campaigning. The majority of his donations came from individual supporters, who became known as Deanites, or, more commonly, Deaniacs. Generally regarded as a pragmatic centrist during his time as governor, Dean emerged during his presidential campaign as a left-wing populist, denouncing the policies of the Bush administration (especially the 2003 invasion of Iraq) as well as fellow Democrats, who, in his view, failed to strongly oppose them. Senator Lieberman, a liberal on domestic issues but a hawk on the War on Terror, failed to gain traction with liberal Democratic primary voters.
qas: answers: Howard Dean
question: Who became the Democratic nominee, half way through 2003?

answers: a fund raiser
question: Dean's admiration for internet campaigning accredited his strength as what?

answers: Deaniacs
question: What did Dean's backers become known as?

answers: governor
question: What government position has Howard Dean previously held?

answers: the 2003 invasion of Iraq
question: Which of Bush's policies did Dean criticize most notably?

context: In September 2003, retired four-star general Wesley Clark announced his intention to run in the presidential primary election for the Democratic Party nomination. His campaign focused on themes of leadership and patriotism; early campaign ads relied heavily on biography. His late start left him with relatively few detailed policy proposals. This weakness was apparent in his first few debates, although he soon presented a range of position papers, including a major tax-relief plan. Nevertheless, the Democrats did not flock to support his campaign.
qas: answers: Wesley Clark
question: Which Democratic nominee declared his intention to enter into the presidential race, in the fall of 2003?

answers: biography
question: What did Wesley Clark's initial campaign ads depend upon?

answers: leadership and patriotism
question: What were Wesley Clarks's core issues?

answers: few detailed policy proposals
question: What shortcoming was noticeable, from the start, for Wesley Clark?

answers: did not flock to support his campaign
question: Was Wesley Clark influential in gathering the Democratic backing?

context: In sheer numbers, Kerry had fewer endorsements than Howard Dean, who was far ahead in the superdelegate race going into the Iowa caucuses in January 2004, although Kerry led the endorsement race in Iowa, New Hampshire, Arizona, South Carolina, New Mexico and Nevada. Kerry's main perceived weakness was in his neighboring state of New Hampshire and nearly all national polls. Most other states did not have updated polling numbers to give an accurate placing for the Kerry campaign before Iowa. Heading into the primaries, Kerry's campaign was largely seen as in trouble, particularly after he fired campaign manager Jim Jordan. The key factors enabling it to survive were when fellow Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy assigned Mary Beth Cahill to be the campaign manager, as well as Kerry's mortgaging his own home to lend the money to his campaign (while his wife was a billionaire, campaign finance rules prohibited using one's personal fortune). He also brought on the "magical" Michael Whouley who would be credited with helping bring home the Iowa victory the same as he did in New Hampshire for Al Gore in 2000 against Bill Bradley.
qas: answers: Kerry
question: Who had the least amount of backers, between Kerry and Dean?

answers: New Hampshire
question: Which state was expected to show the least amount of support for Kerry going into the caucuses, before Iowa?

answers: he fired campaign manager Jim Jordan
question: What act showed that Kerry's fight for the White House was in trouble?

answers: Mary Beth Cahill
question: Who took over for Jim Jordon, when he was fired?

answers: mortgaging his own home to lend the money to his campaign
question: What regulation did Kerry not follow to try to save his campaign?

context: In the race for individual contributions, economist Lyndon LaRouche dominated the pack leading up to the primaries. According to the Federal Election Commission statistics, LaRouche had more individual contributors to his 2004 presidential campaign than any other candidate, until the final quarter of the primary season, when John Kerry surpassed him. As of the April 15 filing, LaRouche had 7834 individual contributions, of those who have given cumulatively, $200 or more, as compared to 6257 for John Kerry, 5582 for John Edwards, 4090 for Howard Dean, and 2744 for Gephardt.
qas: answers: Lyndon LaRouche
question: Who, at the start of the primaries, had the most single campaign contributors?

answers: John Kerry
question: Who had the highest amount of single campaign contributors, at the final quarter of the primaries?

answers: Gephardt
question: Who earned the fewest individual contributions as of the April 15th filing date?

answers: Federal Election Commission
question: What agency provided statistical information regarding the Presidential Candidates' individual contributors?

context: By the January 2004 Iowa caucuses, the field had dwindled down to nine candidates, as Bob Graham had dropped out of the race. Howard Dean was a strong front-runner. However, the Iowa caucuses yielded unexpectedly strong results for Democratic candidates John Kerry, who earned 38% of the state's delegates and John Edwards, who took 32%. Former front-runner Howard Dean slipped to 18% and third place, and Richard Gephardt finished fourth (11%). In the days leading up to the Iowa vote, there was much negative campaigning between the Dean and Gephardt camps.
qas: answers: nine
question: How many candidates remained by the end of the Iowa caucuses, in January 2004?

answers: John Kerry, who earned 38% of the state's delegates and John Edwards
question: Which two candidates had surprising results despite Howard Dean being the strong front-runner?

answers: Dean
question: Which candidate slipped into third place, following the Iowa caucuses?

answers: Dean and Gephardt
question: Preceding the Iowa caucuses, which candidates used naysaying tactics in their campaigning?

answers: Bob Graham
question: Which candidate dropped out of the race, leaving the field to nine candidates?

context: The dismal results caused Gephardt to drop out and later endorse Kerry. Carol Moseley Braun also dropped out, endorsing Howard Dean. Besides the impact of coming in third, Dean was further hurt by a speech he gave at a post-caucus rally. Dean was shouting over the cheers of his enthusiastic audience, but the crowd noise was being filtered out by his unidirectional microphone, leaving only his full-throated exhortations audible to the television viewers. To those at home, he seemed to raise his voice out of sheer emotion. The incessant replaying of the "Dean Scream" by the press became a debate on the topic of whether Dean was the victim of media bias. The scream scene was shown approximately 633 times by cable and broadcast news networks in just four days following the incident, a number that does not include talk shows and local news broadcasts. However, those who were in the actual audience that day insist that they were not aware of the infamous "scream" until they returned to their hotel rooms and saw it on TV.
qas: answers: Gephardt
question: Which candidate, after dropping out, went on to endorse Kerry?

answers: Howard Dean
question: Which troubled candidate did Carol Moseley Braun end up endorsing, after she dropped out?

answers: whether Dean was the victim of media bias
question: The continual playing of Dean's post-rally speech by the media stirred what type of controversy?

answers: "Dean Scream"
question: What tag did the media attach to Dean's post-rally speech?

answers: they were not aware
question: Did those in attendance at Dean's speech know about the "Dean Scream"?

context: The following week, John Edwards won the South Carolina primary and finished a strong second in Oklahoma to Clark. Lieberman dropped out of the campaign the following day. Kerry dominated throughout February and his support quickly snowballed as he won caucuses and primaries, taking in a string of wins in Michigan, Washington, Maine, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., Nevada, Wisconsin, Utah, Hawaii, and Idaho. Clark and Dean dropped out during this time, leaving Edwards as the only real threat to Kerry. Kucinich and Sharpton continued to run despite poor results at the polls.
qas: answers: John Edwards
question: Which candidate went on to win the South Carolina primary?

answers: Clark
question: Which candidate won the Oklahoma primary?

answers: Lieberman
question: Which candidate dropped out of the race, following losing the Oklahoma primary?

answers: Kerry
question: Which candidate received heighted support after winning caucuses and primaries in many states?

answers: Edwards
question: After Clark and Dean dropped out, which candidate was considered to be the only real contender against Kerry?

context: In March's Super Tuesday, Kerry won decisive victories in the California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island primaries and the Minnesota caucuses. Dean, despite having withdrawn from the race two weeks earlier, won his home state of Vermont. Edwards finished only slightly behind Kerry in Georgia, but, failing to win a single state other than South Carolina, chose to withdraw from the presidential race. Sharpton followed suit a couple weeks later. Kuninch did not leave the race officially until July.
qas: answers: Kerry
question: Which candidate was the fore-runner after definitively winning in the primaries and Minnesota caucuses?

answers: Dean
question: Which candidate won his state primary, despite having already dropped out of his race?

answers: Edwards
question: Which candidate finished in second place in the Georgia primary?

answers: South Carolina
question: Besides Georgia, what other state primary did Edwards win?

answers: Sharpton
question: Which candidate dropped out of the race, next after Edwards?

context: On July 6, John Kerry selected John Edwards as his running mate, shortly before the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, held later that month. Days before Kerry announced Edwards as his running mate, Kerry gave a short list of three candidates: Sen John Edwards, Rep Dick Gephardt, and Gov Tom Vilsack. Heading into the convention, the Kerry/Edwards ticket unveiled their new slogan—a promise to make America "stronger at home and more respected in the world." Kerry made his Vietnam War experience the prominent theme of the convention. In accepting the nomination, he began his speech with, "I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty." He later delivered what may have been the speech's most memorable line when he said, "the future doesn't belong to fear, it belongs to freedom", a quote that later appeared in a Kerry/Edwards television advertisement.
qas: answers: John Edwards
question: Who did John Kerry choose to be by his side as the potential Vice President?

answers: three
question: How many candidates did John Kerry name as potential prospects to be his running mate?

answers: "stronger at home and more respected in the world."
question: What was the Kerry/Edwards slogan that was released prior to the start of the convention in Boston?

answers: "I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty."
question: Which part of Kerry's Boston speech made reference to his military experience?

answers: "the future doesn't belong to fear, it belongs to freedom"
question: Which famous line from Kerry's speech was later featured in one of his later television ad campaigns?

context: Bush focused his campaign on national security, presenting himself as a decisive leader and contrasted Kerry as a "flip-flopper." This strategy was designed to convey to American voters the idea that Bush could be trusted to be tough on terrorism while Kerry would be "uncertain in the face of danger." Bush (just as his father did with Dukakis in the 1988 election) also sought to portray Kerry as a "Massachusetts liberal" who was out of touch with mainstream Americans. One of Kerry's slogans was "Stronger at home, respected in the world." This advanced the suggestion that Kerry would pay more attention to domestic concerns; it also encapsulated Kerry's contention that Bush had alienated American allies by his foreign policy.
qas: answers: national security
question: What was the primary focus of Bush's campaign?

answers: presenting himself as a decisive leader and contrasted Kerry as a "flip-flopper."
question: How did Bush try to convey that he was the stronger, tougher candidate?

answers: "Stronger at home, respected in the world."
question: What phrase did Kerry use to try to express that he was more concerned for America?

answers: his foreign policy
question: What does Kerry feel Bush aliented the American people with?

answers: just as his father did with Dukakis in the 1988 election
question: The stategy that Bush used against Kerry was compared to what other similar strategy in the past?

context: During August and September 2004, there was an intense focus on events that occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Bush was accused of failing to fulfill his required service in the Texas Air National Guard. However, the focus quickly shifted to the conduct of CBS News after they aired a segment on 60 Minutes Wednesday introducing what became known as the Killian documents. Serious doubts about the documents' authenticity quickly emerged, leading CBS to appoint a review panel that eventually resulted in the firing of the news producer and other significant staffing changes.
qas: answers: Bush
question: Who was accused on not fulfilling their military service, during the fall of 2004?

answers: a segment on 60 Minutes
question: What shifted attention away from the coverage regarding Bush's controvery regarding his required service?

answers: CBS News
question: Which news agency came under review resulting in the firing of their producer?

answers: the late 1960s and early 1970s
question: Which time period came into the spotlight, during the fall of 2004?

answers: Killian documents
question: What did the documents that were aired during the 60 Minutes segment come to be known as?

context: The first debate was held on September 30 at the University of Miami, moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS. During the debate, slated to focus on foreign policy, Kerry accused Bush of having failed to gain international support for the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, saying the only countries assisting the U.S. during the invasion were the United Kingdom and Australia. Bush replied to this by saying, "Well, actually, he forgot Poland." Later, a consensus formed among mainstream pollsters and pundits that Kerry won the debate decisively, strengthening what had come to be seen as a weak and troubled campaign. In the days after, coverage focused on Bush's apparent annoyance with Kerry and numerous scowls and negative facial expressions.
qas: answers: University of Miami
question: Where did the first debate, between Kerry and Bush take place?

answers: Kerry
question: Who was considered to have been the winner of the debate?

answers: Jim Lehrer
question: Who was the moderator of the first debate between Kerry and Bush?

answers: foreign policy
question: What was thought to be the main focal point of the debate?

answers: strengthening what had come to be seen as a weak and troubled campaign
question: How did the opinion regarding Kerry change, after being delared the winner of the debate?

context: The second presidential debate was held at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, on October 8, moderated by Charles Gibson of ABC. Conducted in a town meeting format, less formal than the first presidential debate, this debate saw Bush and Kerry taking questions on a variety of subjects from a local audience. Bush attempted to deflect criticism of what was described as his scowling demeanor during the first debate, joking at one point about one of Kerry's remarks, "That answer made me want to scowl."
qas: answers: Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
question: Where was the second debate for presidency held?

answers: town meeting format, less formal
question: Was the second debate held in a rigid, formalistic manner?

answers: taking questions on a variety of subjects from a local audience
question: Was there a specific topic as the main focus for the second debate?

answers: Charles Gibson
question: Who was the moderator of the second debate, held at the Washington University?

answers: joking at one point about one of Kerry's remarks, "That answer made me want to scowl."
question: How did Bush try to make light of himself after being made fun of for his demeanor during the first debate?

context: Bush and Kerry met for the third and final debate at Arizona State University on October 13. 51 million viewers watched the debate which was moderated by Bob Schieffer of CBS News. However, at the time of the ASU debate, there were 15.2 million viewers tuned in to watch the Major League Baseball playoffs broadcast simultaneously. After Kerry, responding to a question about gay rights, reminded the audience that Vice President Cheney's daughter was a lesbian, Cheney responded with a statement calling himself "a pretty angry father" due to Kerry using Cheney's daughter's sexual orientation for his political purposes.
qas: answers: third
question: How many debates were there in total, between Kerry and Bush?

answers: Arizona State University
question: Where was the final debate, between Kerry and Bush held?

answers: Major League Baseball playoffs broadcast simultaneously
question: What was the next biggest competitor for television viewers, next to the debate?

answers: Vice President Cheney's daughter
question: Who did Kerry publicize as a lesbian while discussing gay rights, some time after the debate?

answers: "a pretty angry father"
question: What did Cheney refer to him as, after hearing Kerry's comments about his daughter?

context: One elector in Minnesota cast a ballot for president with the name of "John Ewards"  [sic] written on it. The Electoral College officials certified this ballot as a vote for John Edwards for president. The remaining nine electors cast ballots for John Kerry. All ten electors in the state cast ballots for John Edwards for vice president (John Edwards's name was spelled correctly on all ballots for vice president). This was the first time in U.S. history that an elector had cast a vote for the same person to be both president and vice president; another faithless elector in the 1800 election had voted twice for Aaron Burr, but under that electoral system only votes for the president's position were cast, with the runner-up in the Electoral College becoming vice president (and the second vote for Burr was discounted and re-assigned to Thomas Jefferson in any event, as it violated Electoral College rules).
qas: answers: John Edwards
question: Who received a certified ballot from the Electoral College, despite his name being spelled incorrectly on the ballot?

answers: This was the first time in U.S. history
question: Had there ever been a time where an elector voted for the same candidate to be both president and vice president?

answers: All ten electors in the state cast ballots for John Edwards for vice president
question: Which candidate won the unanimous vote for vice presidency?

answers: under that electoral system only votes for the president's position were cast, with the runner-up in the Electoral College becoming vice president
question: What is different in comparison between the 1800 electoral system and the system in place in 2004?

answers: it violated Electoral College rules
question: In the 1800 election, why did Thomas Jefferson get the second vote?

context: The morning after the election, the major candidates were neck and neck. It was clear that the result in Ohio, along with two other states who had still not declared (New Mexico and Iowa), would decide the winner. Bush had established a lead of around 130,000 votes but the Democrats pointed to provisional ballots that had yet to be counted, initially reported to number as high as 200,000. Bush had preliminary leads of less than 5% of the vote in only four states, but if Iowa, Nevada and New Mexico had all eventually gone to Kerry, a win for Bush in Ohio would have created a 269–269 tie in the Electoral College. The result of an electoral tie would cause the election to be decided in the House of Representatives with each state casting one vote, regardless of population. Such a scenario would almost certainly have resulted in a victory for Bush, as Republicans controlled more House delegations. Therefore, the outcome of the election hinged solely on the result in Ohio, regardless of the final totals elsewhere. In the afternoon Ohio's Secretary of State, Ken Blackwell, announced that it was statistically impossible for the Democrats to make up enough valid votes in the provisional ballots to win. At the time provisional ballots were reported as numbering 140,000 (and later estimated to be only 135,000). Faced with this announcement, John Kerry conceded defeat. Had Kerry won Ohio, he would have won the election despite losing the national popular vote by over 3 million votes, a complete reversal of the 2000 election when Bush won the presidency despite losing the popular vote to Al Gore by over 500,000 votes.
qas: answers: It was clear that the result in Ohio, along with two other states who had still not declared (New Mexico and Iowa), would decide the winner
question: Why was there tension the day after the election?

answers: provisional ballots that had yet to be counted, initially reported to number as high as 200,000
question: Despite an apparent lead by Bush early on, what was thought to be a concern?

answers: The result of an electoral tie would cause the election to be decided in the House of Representatives with each state casting one vote, regardless of population
question: How would it be determined who would win, in the event of an electoral tie?

answers: the outcome of the election hinged solely on the result in Ohio
question: Which state became the most important to secure Bush's presidential election?

answers: Al Gore
question: Who did Bush lose the popular vote to in the 2000 election for presidency?

context: At the official counting of the electoral votes on January 6, a motion was made contesting Ohio's electoral votes. Because the motion was supported by at least one member of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, election law mandated that each house retire to debate and vote on the motion. In the House of Representatives, the motion was supported by 31 Democrats. It was opposed by 178 Republicans, 88 Democrats and one independent. Not voting were 52 Republicans and 80 Democrats. Four people elected to the House had not yet taken office, and one seat was vacant. In the Senate, it was supported only by its maker, Senator Boxer, with 74 Senators opposed and 25 not voting. During the debate, no Senator argued that the outcome of the election should be changed by either court challenge or revote. Senator Boxer claimed that she had made the motion not to challenge the outcome, but to "shed the light of truth on these irregularities."
qas: answers: a motion was made contesting Ohio's electoral votes
question: Was there any debate about the voting process in Ohio?

answers: During the debate, no Senator argued that the outcome of the election should be changed by either court challenge or revote
question: What was the decision regarding the motion to re-count the votes, after each House finalized their debates?

answers: Senator Boxer
question: Who was the lone supporter of the motion, from the Senate?

answers: Senator Boxer claimed that she had made the motion not to challenge the outcome, but to "shed the light of truth on these irregularities."
question: Why did Senator Boxer say she voted the way she did?

answers: Not voting were 52 Republicans and 80 Democrats
question: How many people from the House of Representatives did not vote?

context: Kerry would later state that "the widespread irregularities make it impossible to know for certain that the [Ohio] outcome reflected the will of the voters." In the same article, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said "I'm not confident that the election in Ohio was fairly decided... We know that there was substantial voter suppression, and the machines were not reliable. It should not be a surprise that the Republicans are willing to do things that are unethical to manipulate elections. That's what we suspect has happened."
qas: answers: "the widespread irregularities make it impossible to know for certain that the [Ohio] outcome reflected the will of the voters."
question: What did Kerry say affected the ability to know if the results of the Ohio vote was unbiased?

answers: Howard Dean
question: Which Democratic official supported Kerry's theory about the Ohio votes?

answers: the machines were not reliable
question: What was said about the devices used to collect the votes, in Ohio?

answers: the Republicans are willing to do things that are unethical to manipulate elections
question: Who was targeted for defrauding the electoral process, in Ohio?

context: At the invitation of the United States government, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) sent a team of observers to monitor the presidential elections in 2004. It was the first time the OSCE had sent observers to a U.S. presidential election, although they had been invited in the past. In September 2004 the OSCE issued a report on U.S. electoral processes and the election final report. The report reads: "The November 2, 2004 elections in the United States mostly met the OSCE commitments included in the 1990 Copenhagen Document. They were conducted in an environment that reflects a long-standing democratic tradition, including institutions governed by the rule of law, free and generally professional media, and a civil society intensively engaged in the election process. There was exceptional public interest in the two leading presidential candidates and the issues raised by their respective campaigns, as well as in the election process itself."
qas: answers: the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) sent a team of observers to monitor the presidential elections in 2004
question: Who was called in to watch over the presidential election in 2004?

answers: It was the first time the OSCE had sent observers to a U.S. presidential election, although they had been invited in the past.
question: Was this the only occasion the OSCE was invited to preside over a presidential election?

answers: mostly met the OSCE commitments included in the 1990 Copenhagen Document
question: What were the findings of the OSCE team?

answers: long-standing democratic tradition
question: What type of values did the OSCE determine were adhered to during the election process?

context: The 2004 election was the first to be affected by the campaign finance reforms mandated by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (also known as the McCain–Feingold Bill for its sponsors in the United States Senate). Because of the Act's restrictions on candidates' and parties' fundraising, a large number of so-called 527 groups emerged. Named for a section of the Internal Revenue Code, these groups were able to raise large amounts of money for various political causes as long as they do not coordinate their activities with political campaigns. Examples of 527s include Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, MoveOn.org, the Media Fund, and America Coming Together. Many such groups were active throughout the campaign season. (There was some similar activity, although on a much lesser scale, during the 2000 campaign.)
qas: answers: the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
question: What finance act affected the 2004 election?

answers: its sponsors in the United States Senate
question: Where did the moniker McCain-Feingold Bill come from?

answers: Named for a section of the Internal Revenue Code
question: How did the 527 groups come up with their title?

answers: as long as they do not coordinate their activities with political campaigns
question: What stipulation enabled the 527 groups to campaign for funds?

answers: MoveOn.org
question: What is one of the named 527 groups from the 2004 election?

context: To distinguish official campaigning from independent campaigning, political advertisements on television were required to include a verbal disclaimer identifying the organization responsible for the advertisement. Advertisements produced by political campaigns usually included the statement, "I'm [candidate's name], and I approve this message." Advertisements produced by independent organizations usually included the statement, "[Organization name] is responsible for the content of this advertisement", and from September 3 (60 days before the general election), such organizations' ads were prohibited from mentioning any candidate by name. Previously, television advertisements only required a written "paid for by" disclaimer on the screen.
qas: answers: required to include a verbal disclaimer identifying the organization responsible for the advertisement
question: How were viewers able to determine who endorsed political campaign ads, they saw in advertisements??

answers: 60 days before the general election), such organizations' ads were prohibited from mentioning any candidate by name
question: What was disallowed in advertising during the two months prior to the general election?

answers: "I'm [candidate's name], and I approve this message."
question: Official advertisements generally contained what phrase?

answers: "[Organization name] is responsible for the content of this advertisement"
question: Independent advertisements generally contained what phrase?

answers: Previously, television advertisements only required a written "paid for by" disclaimer on the screen.
question: What was the tag line requirement before?

context: A ballot initiative in Colorado, known as Amendment 36, would have changed the way in which the state apportions its electoral votes. Rather than assigning all 9 of the state's electors to the candidate with a plurality of popular votes, under the amendment Colorado would have assigned presidential electors proportionally to the statewide vote count, which would be a unique system (Nebraska and Maine assign electoral votes based on vote totals within each congressional district). Detractors claimed that this splitting would diminish Colorado's influence in the Electoral College, and the amendment ultimately failed, receiving only 34% of the vote.
qas: answers: ballot initiative in Colorado, known as Amendment 36
question: What action suggested by a state, would have affecting the outcome of the electoral votes?

answers: under the amendment Colorado would have assigned presidential electors proportionally to the statewide vote count, which would be a unique system
question: What unique change to the electoral voting process did Colorado suggest should happen?

answers: Nebraska and Maine assign electoral votes based on vote totals within each congressional district)
question: Which two states designated their assigned votes based on their districts?

answers: Detractors claimed that this splitting would diminish Colorado's influence in the Electoral College
question: Did everyone agree that Amendment 36 was a good idea?

answers: the amendment ultimately failed
question: Did Amendment 36 get passed?