Senator John Kerry spoke to his supporters in Boston hours after conceding defeat in Elections 2004 to incumber President George W. Bush. Photo by CNN
Senator John Kerry has publicly conceded the US presidential race to incumbent President George W. Bush.
At a hall in his hometown of Boston Kerry told supporters that it has become obvious he could not win the crucial electoral votes in the state of Ohio.
"I would not give up this fight if there was a chance that we would prevail," Kerry said. "But it is now clear that even when all the provisional ballots are counted - which they will be - there won't be enough outstanding votes for us to be able to win Ohio, and therefore we cannot win this election."
The result of the election had boiled down to who would win the electoral votes from the state of Ohio, necessary for either candidate to reach the 270 electoral votes required to secure victory.
Kerry said that he had given a call to George Bush and offered him his congratulations. He said he hopes that today, "they can begin the healing" after a divisive race and maintain the unity of America.
US re-elected President George W. Bush made his victory speech in Washington shortly afterward.