The importance of the age of GDP voters:

[shomino]

I was listening to some political discussion on NPR today and a particular comment was made that struck me:

Clinton does better among older voters, Obama does better among younger voters. Think about the significance this has for the future of the Democratic Party. If the nomination goes to Clinton it may disenfranchise a lot of younger voters, who are the future of the Democratic party.

I admit this is coming from the perspective of an Obama backer and I give the Clinton supporters all regards for their candidate, who I do respect, but nonetheless:

Don't you think that if the nomination were given to Clinton by the older generation of Democratic party insiders (SD's) despite Obama's delegate lead that it would alienate a large base of newly inspired voters, young voters who have become involved for the first time in a long time? That these people are the future of the Democratic Party? Will they continue to be the future of the Democratic Party if such a decision is made?

Aren't these pretty big questions to consider regarding the future of the party and what it holds?

[Cant trust em]

1. Super delegates are going to look at that

Another point...will SDs blow off a candidate who has seemingly unlimited fundraising potential?

[grasswire]

2. and you're not afraid of losing the over 50 vote?

Seriously.

Where are the youngers going to go?

[Aloha Spirit]

6. I think it's the over 60 vote that he has trouble with.

[NewHampshireDem]

7. A lot of them went to Nader in 2000

Lock them out and it opens the possibility, perhaps not in 2008 but later, that a third-party candidate could peel off a lot of democratic support--or even flip to R if they are able to get an appealing candidate. (If you doubt that, then you might want to look at polls for party identification following 9/11--many young people suddenly became republicans. Thank god we got them back.)

[grasswire]

8. I'm not so sure we care if they leave....

What we see of them here on DU is shockingly ignorant. And many of them are the same people who did agitprop to split the party in 2000.

[shomino]

11. Interesting attitude.

You tell someone "I don't care if you leave" basically telling them they have no worth in your party, then point the finger at them for leaving eh? Wow, self fulfilling prophecy there.

[cliffordu]

3. WTF is considered older??

My lovely spouse is 59, I'm 56.....

And we both vote team Obama!

[shomino]

4. My apologies,

No offense to the older Obama supporters at all. =)

I am simply referring to the fact that his campaign has brought in more new, young, first time voters than hers. New members of the Democratic Party, who may easily become more discouraged with the party than the die-hard veteran Clinton supporters.

[cliffordu]

9. I know, I was talking about the "experts"

:hi:

[monmouth]

5. White female waaaay over 50. Gobama!!....n/t

[Hawkowl]

10. Wrong question

I think that the correct question is, will older voters support Obama in the general election? And will younger voters support Clinton if she were to run in the general.

I think the seniors will rally around whomever the nominee is. They have seen everything and are a pragmatic bunch not bound by starry eyed idealism. They know by HARD experience that compromise is necessary and that half a pie is better than none.

As regards to younger voters, especially the under thirty crowd, I expect a significantly less percentage would be motivated enough to show up and vote for Clinton. I don't think they would vote for McCain. I just think that they would be in a disillusioned stupor of crushed hopes and wouldn't turn out for Clinton. Remember that the first disillusionment is the hardest. These young idealistic voters are often new voters and will be absolutely necessary in crushing the rethugs with an overwhelming turnout. Turnout is everything because it is needed to overcome the corruption and theft by the criminal rethuglicans.

As for myself, I'm perhaps at the tail end of the younger generation (41), and am old enough to have been disillusioned earlier, but that has merely hardened my resolve not to compromise. Or I should say that Obama IS my compromise choice (Edwards was my first choice) and I draw the line in the sand after that. I will not vote for Clinton. However, I don't think there are many people my age that take such a hard line as I do.

[Egnever]

12. Well I am a year older

I originally liked Bidden most but pretty early i realized he wasn't going to make it so I switched to Obama. In the beginning I would have been ok with clinton but now I wont touch her with a ten foot pole. You are not alone in your hard position at this point.