Reminiscent of the headache in 2000, many voters went to bed Tuesday not knowing who would be the next U.S. president.
Although President Bush began election night strong, carrying the majority of the Southeast and the Midwest, Sen. John Kerry came from behind, winning some swing states, such as Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, but at press time, final results were unclear.
The electoral votes fell much the same way they did in the previous election, with Kerry carrying those won in 2000 by Democratic candidate Al Gore.
Perhaps the most crucial state is Ohio and its 20 electoral votes. CNN called it a "green" state -- or too close to call. NBC and Fox News called Ohio for Bush at about 11 p.m. MST. CNN and the Associated Press hadn't declared a winner by midnight MST.
Democrats were claiming roughly 250,000 provisional ballots had yet to be counted in Ohio, according to CNN.
Kerry-Edwards campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill released a statement about Ohio and claimed Kerry would eventually win.
"The vote count in Ohio has not been completed. There are more than 250,000 remaining votes to be counted," Cahill said. "We believe when they are, John Kerry will win Ohio."
Election officials in Iowa said the race was too close to call, and results wouldn't be ready until Wednesday.
Arizona remained Bush country Tuesday night as top officials from both parties gathered to watch the final results of the race.
Those at the Democratic and Republican election night headquarters were more intent on watching the overall battle for the presidency, as the winner of Arizona's 10 electoral votes was not entirely unexpected.
U.S. House Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., addressed a crowd of more than 800 Republican supporters, who continuously chanted "four more years" at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix.
"I thought President Bush would carry Arizona tonight, but I thought it would be narrow," Shadegg said. "He is winning right now by 10 and a half percent. That's more than he won by last time around; it's a very exciting victory."
The victory of U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., also was no surprise. He won with 77 percent of the vote, leaving Democratic challenger Stuart Starky with 21 percent.
"This is the sixth time the people of Arizona have sent me to Washington," McCain said Tuesday night at the Hyatt while addressing a Republican crowd. "I cannot tell you how honored and humbled I am for the great, great, great privilege it has been to be able to serve the people of Arizona."
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a Republican, was re-elected with a fair lead over challengers Democrat Robert Ayala and Independent W. Steven Martin.
Despite the wide Republican wins throughout the state, Democrats remained upbeat while watching the race for the presidency, cheering as various states were called for Kerry.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano addressed more than 500 Democrats on stage at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Phoenix to shouts of "Janet."
Napolitano, who spent much of the day touring many Arizona polling sites, thanked poll volunteers, candidates and voters of Arizona for their turnout.
"We don't know yet the final results of the election, but I'm here to declare a winner, and that is the electoral process in the state of Arizona," she said.
Napolitano described voter turnout as "awesome" during her speech with wild reactions from the crowd.
Jim Pederson, the chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party, also appeared with Napolitano, urging Democrats not to give up hope as the winner was still to be determined.
"It's going to be a long night, maybe a long couple of days, but I like what I'm seeing," Pederson said.
Katie Ruark and La Poasa contributed to this article. Reach the reporter at rkost@asu.edu.
