I think what it comes down to, is that the 2 party system of the US is flawed. The various political, moral and economical beliefs people have simply cannot be divided in just 2 different choices.

People who would vote republican include:
- people who want a strong no-nonsense leaders
- fiscal conservatives, people who believe the government should but out off economical affairs, meaning no subsidizing of any industries, no tarrifs etc
- the religious right, people who believe homosexuals should be stoned, God intended America to rule the world, etc
- people who think democrats are liberal weeners and can't find anything else to vote for

People who would vote democrat include:
- people who think that taking care of the poor is a government responsibility
- "liberals", people who are for the right to abortion, support gay rights, etc
- people who are non-interventionist (nowadays anyway. most people who opposed the Iraq invasion)
- people who think that republicans are elitist corporate leeches, and can't find anything selse to vote for

It just seems like the previous elections Gore-Bush and Bush-Kerry people just voted for their candidate because he isn't the other guy. Hell, the general slogan for the democrats was "anything but Bush". If people vote for one guy just because he's the most tolerable choice, something is wrong with the system.