Bush's Triumph: 2004 Election: In Victory's Glow

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For Kerry's supporters, there is some consolation that Bush will have to take responsibility for finishing what he started in Iraq. For Bush's supporters, there is an obligation to recognize that the intense effort of the other side was as much an expression of love of country as any pledge, hymn or flag. For people on both sides, there is relief that the day affirmed the sustaining virtue of American democracy. However fierce the battle and however high the stakes, on Election Day citizens go to the polls, close a curtain and cast their vote--and then go home to honor the outcome because we have only one President at a time. --Reported by John F. Dickerson with Bush; Perry Bacon Jr. with Kerry; Matthew Cooper, Michael Duffy and Karen Tumulty/ Washington; Eric Roston/ Columbus; Wendy Cole/ Chicago; Mitch Frank and Nathan Thornburgh/ New York; Nancy Harbert/ Albuquerque; Marc Hequet/ Milwaukee; Sandeep Kaushik/ Seattle; Brad Liston/ Orlando; Wendy Malloy/ Tampa; Tim Padgett/Miami; Michael Peltier/ Tallahassee; Betsy Rubiner/ Des Moines; Sean Scully/ Philadelphia; and Stacy J. Willis/ Las Vegas