story of the 2004 presidential campaign between incumbent president gw bush and democratic challenger john f. kerry which and in the opinion of many political observer and kerry and the democratic party let slip right through their finger and end up on the losing end of the vote . the film follow john kerry win the democratic party nomination for president in boston in july to his self destruction over the next four month when he blow a double digit lead in the poll against president bush to end up lose in the november election by 50 . 7 % to 48 . 3 % of the popular vote . thus legitimize bush 2000 victory in which he win the electoral but lose the popular vote to his democratic party opponent for president al gore . despite kerry outstanding and to bush non existent and military record in vietnam the republican strategist and head by karl rove and actually use it against him in falsify it by claim that all his medal be somehow fraudulent especially kerry three purple heart . kerry react to these false charge by mostly ignore them which lead many voter to feel that they be actually true which they weren not . this swift boat smear campaign by the republican have kerry go on the defensive for the remainder of the presidential campaign a his lead in the poll evaporate together with his claim of be a genuine war hero . john kerry who be a hero in vietnam now turn out to be a first class wimp and by let bush and the republican step all over him and when run for the high office in the land . on election day 2004 it look like kerry be go to pull it out and win the presidency for the democratic party with him and for once and lead in a number of key state that he need to win the white house . the most crucial state be the buckeye state of ohio with it 20 electoral vote . it be also ohio that the republican target with a massive get out the vote campaign which the democrat fail to match . the republican who politically control the state also bottle up a number of key democratic precinct and with disruptive poll watcher and a lack of vote machine . a it turn out the final result in ohio mirror the election total 50 state result with bush best kerry and after be behind in the early voting by as much a 28 % and 50 . 7 % to 48 . 3 % . what the film so go the nation make crystal clear be how the democrat blow an election that they be sure to win by smugly try to take the high road in win it . politics be a dirty business and to win in it you have get to pull out all stop in pound your opponent into submission just short of end up and like richard m. nixon and break the law . the republican strategy be to attack kerry strong point like his service in vietnam and have him defend it a if it be detrimental not positive in him get elect president . the kerry people let bush off the hook in defend their candidate brilliant war record while bush who do everything to avoid serve in the war end up get a free ride . these attack on kerry have the public and especially in ohio and overlook the downturn in the economy and the disastrous iraqi war which if bring out by kerry and the democratic party would have easily give kerry the presidency . in the end the clueless and in how to win a presidential election and democratic party prove that famous say good guy finish last which they by try to be goody two shoe and and let themselves get kick all over the place and totally turn the american public against them . all these political miscalculation by kerry and the democratic party have gw bush vote in for a second term by the majority of the american voter which in retrospect turn out to be against and for most of those who vote for him and their best interest .