It's the Economy, Duh.

Despite Republican claims to be expanding youth outreach and their hopes that younger conservative voters would be swept up in "the Palin Bump," there seems to be little evidence that the allegiances of young Americans have shifted much, if at all, in the past few months of the election. Rock the Vote released a new poll yesterday that reaffirms younger voters' dedication to both Barack Obama and the Democratic party.

Their poll, which was conducted by calling cellphones as well as land lines to better reach a representative sample of young people, finds voters ages 18-29 supporting Obama 56% to McCain's 29%, a number which has hardly budged since Rock The Vote's last poll in February. Sarah Palin and Joe Biden have had little effect on young people's thinking-- Biden is largely unknown, with 30% having no opinion on him, while Palin is viewed negatively by 40%, and positively by only 37%. In terms of party affiliation, 50% of respondents identified themselves as Democrats, only 29% as Republicans, and 12% as independents (a number that has declined from polling earlier in the election cycle). Participation and enthusiasm remain unflagging-- almost 90% of respondents said they plan to vote.

The main revelation in the poll is the economy's surge to the top of the list of young voters' concerns. This really isn't surprising given the current climate--this generation will be dealing with the repercussions (and debt) of our financial crisis for years to come. Behind the economy come the war in Iraq, healthcare, gas prices and college costs. From a policy standpoint, young people are already aligned with Democrats on the first two-- they favor universal healthcare and a quick withdrawal from Iraq.

On the economy, Democrats are offering more to young people entering a bleak-looking workforce, through plans such as Obama's to increase incentives for service work --expanding programs like PeaceCorps and AmeriCorps--,boost federal funding for college and create green jobs. A report by CIRCLE earlier this year found that the Millenial generation is the most civic minded in years-- volunteering at high rates and participating in local government. With economic incentives, one can only imagine that sort of participation increasing. Programs like the ones some Democrats are proposing be included in the Wall Street bail-out, including increased investment in infrastructure and debt-relief for ordinary Americans (outlined in detail by Katrina Vanden Heuvel)could also greatly benefit young Americans.

Such opportunities are only part of the picture, and any administration will have difficulty delivering a rosy economy to the next generation. It's still unclear whether these concrete concerns are what is solidifying Democratic support among young people or the broader appeal of a vague notion of change promised by Obama. Besides just worrying about the economy, young people will have to push forward the agenda that will benefit them, in November and beyond. Ultimately, they're the ones footing the bill.

Comments (6)

1. Again, if "the kids" win it for Obama....then it'll be important.

   Until then, it's all "sales pitch".

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 1:31pm

2. WALL STREET's RECKONING! (Yet, it Took 10 Years to Raise MinWage $1.00)

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S27yitK32ds

   "Rule one: Rush the decision. Time the game to fall in the week before Congress is set to adjourn and just 6 weeks before an historic election so your opponents will be preoccupied, pressured, distracted, and in a hurry.

   Rule two: Disarm the public through fear. Warn that the entire global financial system will collapse and the world will fall into another Great Depression. Control the media enough to ensure that the public will not notice this. Bailout will indebt them for generations, taking from them trillions of dollars they earned and deserve to keep.

   Rule three: Control the playing field and set the rules. Hide from the public and most of the Congress just who is arranging this deal. Communicate with the public through leaks to media insiders. Limit any open congressional hearings. Communicate with Congress via private teleconferencing calls. Heighten political anxiety by contacting each political party separately. Treat Members of Congress condescendingly, telling them that the matter is so complex that they must rely on those few insiders who really do know what's going on!"

   (FYI: Republicans have blocked voting on bills by Dems for more oversight and regulation.)

   Posted by Angellight at 09/24/2008 @ 1:51pm

3. Again, if "the kids" win it for Obama....then it'll be important.

   Until then, it's all "sales pitch".

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/24/2008 @ 1:31pm

   Did you even read the post beyond the first paragraph, Mask? It doesn't matter that Ms. Currier didn't say anything about "the kids" being "the difference" in the election, i.e., the reason Obama wins, but you had to rush in and belittle any journalism that takes either a positive or objective attitude towards the youth vote. Why don't you pop a valium the next time such a piece is posted here?

   Posted by cka2nd at 09/24/2008 @ 5:32pm

4. Mask, There is this possibility: Data on youth vote in past reflects the youth's lack of concern for nasty, corrupt politicians,

   NOT because they didn't personally experience said nastiness,

   NOT because said nastiness was not acute enough

   BUT because until now they had not personally experienced nastiness BOTH acute enough, and long enough.

   A couple years of evil may not get the young bucks to stop dry humping and notice, but eight straight might.

   Posted by winyahn at 09/25/2008 @ 08:57am

5. Posted by cka2nd at 09/24/2008 @ 5:32pm

   Posted by winyahn at 09/25/2008 @ 08:57am

   Boys, I've heard about the "youth vote" since 6th grade....all I'm saying is simply-

   "Put up or shut up" and quit CLAIMING things every 4 years and prove your "bloc" is as powerful as you say.

   If you can, my hat's off to you and I'll apologize.

   If you can't...well...it's par for the course since McGovern.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/25/2008 @ 10:30am

6. "Put up or shut up" and quit CLAIMING things every 4 years and prove your "bloc" is as powerful as you say.

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/25/2008 @ 10:30am

   Yes, you repeat yourself constantly, in fact everytime an article about young voters is published. The problem is, you say the exact same thing everytime, even if the article has NOTHING to do with claiming that the youth vote is a powerful bloc.

   The main purpose of this article was to note that the economy has become the #1 issue for young voters and to report that they continue to lean strongly towards Obama. Only one sentence addressed the issue of young people actually following through and voting, and it reported a poll result.

   If you had a problem with the actual content of the article - as opposed to a Pavlovian reaction to the words "youth" and "vote" appearing in the same article - you could have written that the polling was all wet, that young people were still more interested in the war and the environment instead of the economy, or, if you were Happy, that they would be attracted to McCain once they got a clearer idea of his economic policies. Either would have at least addressed the actual content of the article rather than 30-40 year old claims that this piece didn't even repeat.

   Posted by cka2nd at 09/26/2008 @ 12:34pm