If the election were solely about the popular vote Bush's entire campaign would have been different. Everything from his stump speeches to his platform to his strategy of campaign locations.
There is just no way Bush's campaign would have been the same had the goal been to acquire the popular vote. He would have had to go much farther left on all of his policies. As it was, one can say he stayed as far right as he could and still manage to get elected without misrepresenting his goals.