SPORTSMEN HELPED TIP ELECTION FOR BUSH . . . As the 2004 election drama unfolded, the final outcome rested on the voting results in a handful of states. Three of those states–Ohio, Florida and New Mexico–happened to be the subject of a pre-election survey by the Congressional Sportsmen?s Foundation and NSSF. The survey showed that 80 percent of hunters and anglers in those states expected to vote and, by large margin, believed President Bush was the better candidate on their issues. In addition, a national exit poll conducted by CNN showed that 63 percent of American gun owners voted to re-elect President Bush, while just 36 percent voted for John Kerry. Given those figures it?s fair to say that sportsmen played a critical role in tipping the election for Bush. NSSF President Doug Painter said he was pleased that NSSF?s Vote Your Sport campaign helped educate and mobilize sportsmen toward the polls. ?Senator Kerry couldn?t hide a 20-year anti-gun, anti-hunting career behind 20 weeks of make-believe hunting and shooting interest. We thank America?s sportsmen for their vigilance and for voting their sport,? he said. Read NSSF’s press release on the election.