Kids and Obama...the under 10 crowd is convincing their parents to support Obama

[Hamlette]

Backstory: There was a discussion on this blog about parents using their kids as props in the campaign. I thought they were talking about Palin using Trig but they were also talking about voters influencing their kids. Then a reader wrote in with this delightful post:

I thought I'd pass on an anecdote about my daughter and other kids I've come into contact with during this ungodly long election cycle.

I voted for McCain in the primary. As a political reporter and columnist in Michigan, I have the news on in our house with some frequency. That's how my now 6-year-old got to know Barack Obama. And she loved him. She asked to tag along when I went to cover his events. Maybe it's the smile, the calmness. But she felt very assured by the idea of this man being president, long before I was ready to switch my vote. She was the one trying to convince her grandparents to vote Obama last winter.

And I've found that Obama has the same effect on lots of kids, whether they come from liberal or conservative homes. He is a rock star with the under 10 crowd, believe me. And I have to say, as a journalist, I found their reactions fascinating in light of both the race debate and the fact that kids tend to be carbon copies of their parents. So that Scholastic poll doesn't surprise me at all.

So the next time you see a kid with an Obama shirt, she just might have asked for it for her birthday, like mine, instead of having it foisted upon her by overbearing parents.

(I have completely brainwashed my 26 year old and my 9 month old grandson sports Obama t-shirts all the time...need to buy more come to think of it. But this 6 year old is great.)

(edited to add link: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/obama-and-the-k.html

[juno jones]

1. I have a friend on another blog who has been following this

phenomena. Kids draw, talk, sing Obama.

Kids and dogs love him. In my experience kids and animals are some of the best indicators of the soul. If they like you, you're in, if they don't...well I'll be keeping an eye on you.

They love Obama.

[VWolf]

2. My 8yo daughter has made three or four

Obama paintings. I have two hanging in my office.

I told her on the next one she should exaggerate the ears a bit :)

[juno jones]

3. LOL!

I almost wish mine were young enough to do that. However, my 18-year-old is voting Obama and that will be good enough. :hi:

[Tarheel_Dem]

4. Recommended.........(nt)

[Cha]

5. We've seen his connection in the baby

pics on upward.. Obama has that certain je ne sais quoiB-)

Thanks for the article, Hamlette.

[Hamlette]

6. love this enough to kick it myself n/t

[BklynChick]

7. my 6yo daughter is crazy for Obama