WASHINGTON - President Bush won four more years in the White House today, pocketing a public concession from Democrat John Kerry that closed out a loud and long campaign fought over the war on terror and the economy.

"We cannot win this election," the Massachusetts senator said in an emotional campaign farewell after deciding not to contest Bush's lead in make-or-break Ohio.

In an appearance in Faneuil Hall in Boston, where he launched his quest for the White House more than a year ago, Kerry said he had telephoned Bush to congratulate him on his victory.

"We talked about the danger of division in our country and the need the desperate need for unity, for finding common ground and coming together," Kerry said. "Today, I hope we can begin the healing," he said.

Bush arranged to make his victory speech in Washington after Kerry concluded his remarks.

The re-election triumph gave the president a new term to pursue the war in Iraq and a conservative, tax-cutting agenda and probably the chance to name one or more justices to an aging Supreme Court.

He also will preside alongside expanded Republican majorities in Congress. The GOP gained four Senate seats and bolstered its majority in the House by at least two.

Ohio's 20 electoral votes gave Bush 274 in the Associated Press count, four more than the 270 needed for victory. Kerry had 252 electoral votes, with Iowa (7) and New Mexico (5) unsettled.

Bush was winning 51 percent of the popular vote to 48 percent for his rival. He led by more than 3 million ballots.

Officials in both camps described the telephone conversation between two campaign warriors.

A Democratic source said Bush called Kerry a worthy, tough and honorable opponent. Kerry told Bush the country was too divided, and Bush agreed, the source said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush told Kerry, "I think you were an admirable, honorable opponent."

Yet Kerry's public remarks contained an element of challenge to the Republican president. "America is in need of unity and longing for a larger measure of compassion," he said. "I hope President Bush will advance those values in the coming years."

Kerry placed his call after weighing unattractive options overnight. With Bush holding fast to a six-figure lead in make-or-break Ohio, Kerry could give up or trigger a struggle that would have stirred memories of the bitter recount in Florida that propelled Bush to the White House in 2000.

Read more in later editiions of The Blade and toledoblade.com.

First Published November 3, 2004, 7:25 p.m.