Poll: Young voters hint at electorate shift

[lonestarnot]

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


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.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-05-poll-youth_N.htm
TABLE: Obama leads McCain among youth
DATA: USA TODAY/MTV/Gallup Poll

"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."

[sharp_stick]

1. I'll believe that when I see it

I don't doubt that people under 30 strongly prefer Obama but this age group is notorious for not bothering to vote. In 2004 we were shuttling people to the polls in NH and we were supposed to get a bunch of "kids" from some of the schools that will remain nameless. All of them had been registered and it was supposed to be a three van pick up and drop off. When it came time to go I could have driven the entire delegation in my car. Four people, the rest had "better things to do".

Hopefully this is the year they don't have anything better to do. I'll be back and I'll bring as many vans as I can I'd really like to fill them up this time.

[lonestarnot]

2. Sending positive vibes on full vans.

[TwixVoy]

3. Well they got what was coming to them

they will still be paying for this bail out when it comes time to retire. They can kiss social security good bye when they hit retirement.