Obama Is the Overwhelming Favorite of Nonvoters

[Quixote1818]

As September approaches, pollsters are starting to release polls of likely voters instead of registered voters. These are thought to be more accurate, since the opinions of registered voters who don't plan to actually vote don't affect the election outcome. Every pollster has a secret formula for determining likely voters. Typically there are four or five questions asking about previous voting history, how important the person thinks voting is, etc.

But what about the nearly 40% of adult American citizens (both registered and unregistered) who choose not to vote? That's 80 million people who are eligible to vote but can't be bothered. What do they think? Do they even know who is running? Why don't they vote?

In a ground-breaking study, Suffolk University ran a poll of American adults and then selected out the unlikely voters, rather than the likely voters, for analysis. They are not a politically aware bunch: 61% could not name the current Vice President. Also noteworthy is that 59% said they don't pay attention to politics because nothing ever gets done. It is just a bunch of empty promises. Of these nonvoters, 55% view President Obama favorably while only 25% view Mitt Romney favorably. Clearly, Obama doesn't have to convince them he is the better candidate. He only has to convince them that he could make a difference in their lives.

More at: http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2012/Pres/Maps/Aug18.html#item-1

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. It's hard not to feel cynical or hopeless about politics.

[Amak8]

2. Republicans feed fatalism because it helps their cause.

The right is always fuming with anger, even in good times. And they always vote. Democrat leaning independents overestimate the moderation of the other side.