Young voters hint at electorate shift-"Katy bar the door"

[babylonsister]

Young voters hint at electorate shift
By Susan Page, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Some voters under 30 are conservatives. An equal number are liberals. But a striking majority of the Millennial generation agrees on one thing: who should be the next president.

A USA TODAY/MTV/Gallup Poll of registered voters 18 to 29 years old shows Democrat Barack Obama leading Republican John McCain by 61%-32%, the most lopsided contest within an age group in any presidential election in modern times. Obama's margin is overwhelming across four groups of younger voters, divided by their engagement in the election, their optimism about the future and other factors.

"I think he can actually relate a great deal more to our interests and values and beliefs," says Lisa Kettunen, 24, of Otego, N.Y. Kettunen, an administrator at Hartwick College who was among those polled, particularly likes Obama's stands on protecting the environment and forging better relations around the world.

"We have a lot of really great ideas and hopes for change," Kettunen says of her generation, "and he's really speaking to what we want."

Some Republicans fear that whatever the outcome Nov. 4, movement of this generation to Obama could set political views through their lifetimes, reverberating in future elections.

"This is the equivalent of the Reagan brigades, where a whole class of people identify with a politician," says Dan Bartlett, a veteran of the Bush White House, calling it "a real wake-up call" for the GOP. Bartlett, 37, grew up during Reagan's presidency, which begat a generation of young conservatives.

If young people vote for Obama by current margins, he says, "Katy bar the door."

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-05-poll-youth_N.htm

[grannie4peace]

1. obama, obama, obama, obama, obama!!!!

[d_b]

2. Sounds good to me

"Some voters under 30 are conservatives. An equal number are liberals."

Have to call bullshit on that though.

[babylonsister]

5. What do you mean? Are you saying there are more liberals?

If so, I'd have to agree, but there numbers at least equal conservatives.

[d_b]

6. That is what I'm saying

yes.

[central scrutinizer]

12. probably a lot identify as "moderates"

and the moderates are obviously choosing Obama.

[WillyT]

3. Big K & R !!!

:kick:

[WinkyDink]

4. "Reagan's presidency, which begat a generation of young conservatives." And your children HATE YOU.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. ...with the passion of a thousand forges in hell.

[Arugula Latte]

15. That's my generation -- and it SUCKS. I'm 42.

:banghead:

[No Elephants]

7. Yep, the silver lining behind the Obama silver lining is the number of young and/or African American

voters his campaign has managed to register. Both groups tend to vote Democrat, so this has ramifications for the country way beyond Obama. Now, we need someone or something that stops the Pubs from stealing elections.

[a kennedy]

8. D*mn that is fantastic news......

NOW if they really DO get out there and VOTE!! :toast: :bounce: :thumbsup: :hi: :dem: :headbang: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot:

[Historic NY]

9. Getting them to the polls will be the hardest ...

and actually pulling the lever are two different things. Young people need to get up and get out of bed on Nov. 4th. They need to know the stakes are high.

[babylonsister]

11. If they have been invested in volunteering, going to rallys, GOTV,

I think they'll find their way to the polls. Just a guess, but these kids have got to know how important this is.

[Raschel]

17. I agree

they'll make it to the polls. We can't underestimate how historical this election is.

The first Black man/minority actually a choice in a Presidential race. A man who has youth and appeals to the youth and future hope of America. A man who tells the youth that they can be a part of bringing our nation back to greatness.

I believe you will see so many voters that it will be astounding and Obama will win in a landslide.

[johnaries]

13. That's part of our advantage.

The Obama supporters are much more energized, and much more likely to vote. The McCain supporters are more likely to stay home.

[codjh9]

14. Damn glad to hear it... there are quite a few Young Brainwashed Republicans at the big U.

here in TX... just saw a McCain sign hanging from a balcony of some student rentals as I walked home this morning. Plus my girlfriend met w/a Dem group at a local restaurant recently, where they were heckled by drunk students. F-ing idiots doing nothing but parroting mommy & daddy's bullshit.

[xxqqqzme]

16. '... divided by their engagement in the election,

their optimism about the future...'

Isn't that just about any age group?

[Alter Ego]

18. I hate to compare him to the Gipper, but have we found our Reagan?

[Shine]

19. I actually had to google the term "Katy bar the door". Never heard that one before.

:D

[JPZenger]

20. "Is that him??!!!"

I watched two 8 year old kids walk down the sidewalk in front of the local Obama headquarters. There was a tall thin African-American man working inside as a volunteer, behind the large window. The one kid looks up in wide-eyed excitement and says "Is that him?!!!"