The Campaign, Might Want To Put A Thought Or Two Behind This...

[WillyT]

Stung by Recession, Young Voters Shed Image as Obama Brigade
By SUSAN SAULNY - NYT
Published: July 1, 2012


Chad Tevlin, 19, who cleans portable toilets to support himself during college, says he finds politics pointless.

<snip>

Maria Verdugo, a 20-year-old graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, barely remembers the presidential election of 2008 — the one that spawned a youth movement that was singular in its scope and political effectiveness — except for “something about Obama saying we needed a change.” These days, Ms. Verdugo is so busy working to pay off her student loans that she has not decided whether to register “as a Democrat, a Republican or what,” she said.

Chad Tevlin, 19, a student trying to pay for college by cleaning portable toilets in South Bend, Ind., cannot recall if he registered to vote at all. “Pointless” is how he describes politics. And Kristen Klenke, a music student in central Michigan, has decided to skip this election altogether. “I know it sounds horrible,” said Ms. Klenke, 20. “But there’s a lot of discouragement going around.”

In the four years since President Obama swept into office in large part with the support of a vast army of young people, a new corps of men and women have come of voting age with views shaped largely by the recession. And unlike their counterparts in the millennial generation who showed high levels of enthusiasm for Mr. Obama at this point in 2008, the nation’s first-time voters are less enthusiastic about him, are significantly more likely to identify as conservative and cite a growing lack of faith in government in general, according to interviews, experts and recent polls.

Polls show that Americans under 30 are still inclined to support Mr. Obama by a wide margin. But the president may face a particular challenge among voters ages 18 to 24. In that group, his lead over Mitt Romney — 12 points — is about half of what it is among 25- to 29-year-olds, according to an online survey this spring by the Harvard Institute of Politics. And among whites in the younger group, Mr. Obama’s lead vanishes altogether. Among all 18- to 29-year-olds, the poll found a high level of undecided voters; 30 percent indicated that they had not yet made up their mind. And turnout among this group is expected to be significantly lower than for older voters.

<And...>

Vanessa Espinoza, 19, who lives in eastern Iowa, says she does care about this election but has been unable to commit to a political party. As a conservative Catholic, she sides with Republicans on issues like abortion. As a full-time factory worker without health insurance, she favors the president’s health care law, which may have finally swayed her. Still, her endorsement is less than resounding. “I lean a little toward Obama,” she said. “I guess.”

<snip>

Whole piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/us/politics/economy-cuts-into-obamas-youth-support.html?_r=2

[elleng]

1. And?

Pretend there hasn't been an intransigent Congress?

[WillyT]

3. Somebody Who Was 14, 15, 16, 17, When Obama Was Elected...

Might just not know what an intransigent Congress is.

Point being... there is work to do here.

4 more years of voters have come of age.

And although yeah... most will probably vote for him... they should INCREASE whatever number they think is enough.

Time to crush the GOP, no ???

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I read that this morning

but the spin was like a top - most notably this admission -

Polls show that Americans under 30 are still inclined to support Mr. Obama by a wide margin.

(the underlined portion being the key).

This doesn't mean one rests on one's laurels but if anything, the the student loan interest rate reduction was just extended a couple days ago (signing ceremony still TBD), so that will provide a bump. And schools are out for summer but come fall, the machine will ratchet up. There may still be a lower turnout if they are that disengaged, but I think reaching them on social media is probably something that the NYT is missing as an element.

[WillyT]

5. That's All I'm Saying Here...

"doesn't mean one rests on one's laurels"

Exactly... every group that can be gotten, should be got.

This article was a heads-up.

Reach out to these kids.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. What will be helpful

barring all the voter suppression laws that will hopefully get TROs on them, is that the Hispanic vote should be up in key areas (i.e., beyond those in California) and that may offset any drop off in the younger set. Personally I like seeing Arizona shifting into play.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. "Maria Verdugo, a 20-year-old graduate of the University of California" ???

As someone who finished his BS on the 4 and a half year plan, I'm impressed by this.

[WillyT]

6. Me Too... Holy Crap !!!

And we need her on OUR side, no???

[Shankapotomus]

7. dang poli-emos

snap out of it!

[WillyT]

9. Ok... I'm Really Old... Amost 57... So... Any Hints ???

"poli-emos"

help...

[Shankapotomus]

10. I just made it up

It's a fusion of the words political and emo.