Bernie Sanders' Call For Young Voters Isn't Working Out The Way He Planned

[highplainsdem]

https://www.npr.org/2020/03/06/812486517/bernie-sanders-call-for-young-voters-isn-t-working-out-the-way-he-planned

"Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing young people in? The answer is no," Sanders told reporters at a news conference at his Burlington, Vt., headquarters. Sanders went on to acknowledge the undeniable challenge that any candidate banking on the support of younger voters faces: They do not vote in high numbers, compared with other groups.

"I think that will change in the general election, but I will be honest with you, we have not done as well with bringing young people into the process," Sanders said. "It is not easy."

While young voters were part of the coalition that propelled Sanders to victory in California, those under age 30 made up just 11% of the electorate, according to exit polls. Another 35% were between the ages of 45 and 64, and 30% were 65 or older.

In Texas, a state that Biden won though the demographics were supposed to favor Sanders, just 16% of voters were younger than 30, while 38% were between the ages of 45 and 64, and 24% were 65 and older.

-snip-

Even in Vermont, voters under 30 were just 11% of the Super Tuesday electorate. 70% were over 45.

[DemKittyNC]

1. Yep

Bernie is over. Now on to destroying tRump!

[empedocles]

2. I had 3 young relatives born in Vermont. They all left Vermont after college, and many of

their classmates did the same.

[brush]

3. Sanders' pied piper-esque call for young voters worked out about as well...

as that of the pied piper of yore.

[calimary]

4. He was sure they'd materialize in 2016, between the last primary and the convention.

And he sat things out and did NOTHING to bring the party together behind Hillary, after she clinched the nomination by the end of primary season and nomination night. He held out for a hoard of voters - who just weren’t there.

And they’re not there now!

Either they don’t bother to come out to vote like other demographic groups do, or they simply don’t exist.

It doesn’t mean squat how many people go to the rallies if they don’t show up to vote. I remember some furtive Bernie supporter in 2016, whining - “but the rallies! The rallies!” It matters NOT a micron if they don’t vote. I’m still disgusted thinking back to that interview some reporter in Iowa did with a couple of college-age voters on the eve of the Iowa caucuses in 2016. These two young dudes were ALL IN on Bernie. Oh Bernie, Bernie, Bernie and more Bernie, they gushed. And then, the inevitable follow-up: “so you’re gonna go caucus for Bernie tomorrow night, right?” “Uh, no. We have water polo practice.”



You have ONE job. ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS. And how many dozens of water polo practice sessions this season? You couldn’t miss just the one out of umpteen water polo practices on Caucus night to go do your civic duty on behalf of your country?