Exit polls are wonderful. They cut through all the speculation and inuendo and simply ask the actual people who voted what their opinions are on a variety of issues.
The exit polls for the 2004 election are available here.
Here, without commentary, are some of the results:
Overall: Bush won 51% to Kerry's 49%. Bear this number in mind.
Men: Bush: 55% to Kerry's 44%.
Women: Kerry 51% to Bush's 48%.
Income is less than $15,000: Kerry 63% to Bush's 36%.
Income is greater than $200,000: The reverse.
Do you WORK full time? Bush gets 53% to Kerry's 45%
Did you drop out of highschool? Kerry 50% to Bush's 49%.
College Graduate: Bush gets 52% to Kerry's 46%
Did you go on for post graduate study? Kerry gets 55% to Bush's 44%
Are you an atheist or agnostic? Kerry wins by 67% to Bush's 31%
Are you a Protestant? Bush wins 59% to 40%
Have you served in the military? Bush wins by 57% to 41%
Married people went for Bush: 57% for Bush to 42% for Kerry
Do you have children and are also married? Bush by a larger margin: 59% to 40%
Are you gay OR bisexual? Kerry wins by 77% to Bush's 23% (note: 4% of the population identifies themselves as either Gay or Bi-sexual).
Do you think the tax cuts were bad for the economy? Kerry got that by 92% to 7%
The government can do more to solve your problems: Kerry 66% to Bush's 33%.
I'll put commentary in the comments area...