the film was released in june 2004, less than five months before the 2004 presidential election. michael moore, while not endorsing presidential candidate john kerry, stated in interviews that he hoped "to see mr. bush removed from the white house". he also said that he hoped his film would influence the election: "this may be the first time a film has this kind of impact". however, some political analysts did not expect it to have a significant effect on the election. one republican strategist stated that moore "communicates to that far-left sliver that would never vote for bush", and jack pitney, a government professor at claremont mckenna college, suspected that the main effect of the film would be to "turn bush-haters into bigger bush-haters". regardless of whether the film would change the minds of many voters, moore stated his intention to use it as an organizing tool, and hoped that it would energize those who wanted to see bush defeated in 2004, increasing voter turnout. notwithstanding the film's influence and commercial success, george w. bush was re-elected in 2004.