The crosstabs on this Obama poll are interesting

[bluestateguy]

This is Kos's weekly poll, although it only asks people if they have a "favorable" view of Barack Obama, which is not the same question as "do you approve of his job performance". At any rate, the age breakdown is interesting:

(Favorable is on the left; unfavorable is on the right)
18-29 78 15 7
30-44 42 48 10
45-59 62 30 8
60+ 40 54 6

As expected, Obama is wildly popular among the youngest people, but then his numbers dip to only 42% favorable among 30-44 year old, but then go back up again among the Baby Boomers aged 45-59. Then, as expected, he sinks again among the +60 crowd.

Why the popularity among the 45-59 crowd? I am inclined to think it is because of the health care debate. These are the people who are too young for Medicare, but perhaps old enough to be starting to have health problems. They are at the mercy of private insurers and probably endure more insurance company bullshit than folks in the younger age categories. Hence, the 45-59 year old crowd is probably more inclined to favor reform than the Gen Xers.

http://www.dailykos.com/weeklypoll/2009/10/8

[FrenchieCat]

1. These are people who have lived through the Reagan Presidency

and clearly understand what they don't want.....and Obama is the anti-Reagan....

While the 30-44 group aren't old enough to remember...and aren't they ones we call the "Me" Generation anyways? :shrug:

[phleshdef]

2. The baby boomer numbers could also be because he is of the same generation.

[grantcart]

3. Well you would think that numbers like that would make the Republicans

reconsider themselves.

[WI_DEM]

4. Obama has a real problem with seniors--and GOP is going to go all out on the Obama

is cutting medicare attack on health care reform. The problem with having young people is that is fine if they get out and vote. Seniors, by and large, vote in larger numbers than other age groups which could be critical in an off-year election.

[treestar]

5. Bodes well for the future

Every year, the country will get more progressive. Look at the 18-29 numbers - wonderful!

[emulatorloo]

6. Regional Favorable numbers - NE 81% / SOUTH 26% / MIDWEST 61% / WEST 58%

rest of US 66%

Now why the heck is the south trying to drag this man down?

[rufus dog]

7. Being a part of that second group I can share my views

And that is, been there, done that. I am at the low end, Reagan was elected when I was in college, after his final 4 years and the continuation during Bush I we finally had a change agent in Clinton. Then Bill didn't come through across the board. The final one for me was "Don't ask Don't Tell" even though it had no impact to me I thought what a friggen wuss, take a stand! Then the second Clinton term became a complete waste, then the Pukes got what they wanted.

So the 45 - 59 age group has seen this play before, we got fooled once, but we won't again. There will be two groups out there screaming up a storm, the righties will say it doesn't matter who is in charge so you should vote the current bums out, and the far lefties will say it doesn't matter so we need to teach our guys a lesson.

[insanity]

8. I'd be curious to see the chi-square values on age to opinion

I wonder how strong the relation is between age and opinion of the President. Anyways, I truly believer the generation ahead of mine (I'm in the 18-30 range) is largely worthless and selfish.

[jeanmarc]

9. Glad to see the numbers for 18-29

It bodes well for the future of the party.

[southernyankeebelle]

10. It might be that. I am 61 and to young for medicare also but I do have a government

health care plan that is Tricare Primary. I wish that everyone could get this program. Its really good because its based on your salary. I think it could help the working poor and at least people in the lower middle class.

[RichGirl]

11. Let's see....

18-29 They are young with fresh ideas, flexible and not yet "set in their ways". They don't think they know it all. They are too busy to whine and complain and pick apart EVERYTHING!

30-44 Peak complaining and whining mode. They think they know it all, that they are smarter and know better than the president.
EVERYTHING has to be EXACTLY the way they want it and if it isn't they will hold their breath until they turn blue.

45-59 Old enough, mature enough to know that nobody is perfect, nothing is perfect and you don't always get what you want. Wise enough to know that they aren't always right....sometimes they are wrong.

60+ The "favorables" are older and wiser...the "unfavorable" are getting senile.

[Clio the Leo]

12. Does anyone know if the "regular" polls only call people with land lines?

Part of my job requires that I take phone numbers from that youngest age bracket ..... I RARELY find any with a traditional land line. Is it possible all of the polls we know and love are actually skewed because they're not sampling enough younger voters?