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RSS icon Comments on The Year of the Youth Vote

1

Keep in mind that the "youthquake" is still a much lower percentage of the age segment than any other. The "135% gain" is from a much, much lower base. Youth voters still matter less than any other age group.

On the other hand, I guess that means a broader potential pool of new voters. If they could be persuaded to vote as much as old people, there would be no contest.

But on the other other hand, will the youth voters still be there in November? What if Clinton wins the nomination -- my guess is, the youth voters goes back to their video games and sit another one out. They're not exactly famous for their long attention spans.

Posted by Fnarf | February 1, 2008 10:40 AM
2

can the word "youthquake" be added to the list of banned words on the slog? okthx

Posted by kinkos | February 1, 2008 10:40 AM
3

Not to be a dick about it or anything, but absolutely EVERYONE I've talked to in the last few days who is in that demographic ISN'T EVEN REGISTERED TO VOTE. No joke.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty | February 1, 2008 10:47 AM
4

Two words: Early voting. People who did so most likely voted for the established candidate. So, Hillary wins. Obama needs more "contact" with people. So, Super Tuesday does him no favors.

Posted by Tony | February 1, 2008 10:48 AM
5

Greg Nickels endorses Obama this morning, does that count?

Posted by ratcityreprobate | February 1, 2008 10:49 AM
6

"only the students have kept Obama in contention"

doesn't this frighten any hard-core Obama supporters, even just a little bit?

Posted by josh | February 1, 2008 10:51 AM
7

God I love Dead or Alive.

Posted by kid icarus | February 1, 2008 10:52 AM
8

What I want to know is, will you young moderns turn out to vote when Obama is the Veep candidate?

Posted by Big Sven | February 1, 2008 10:59 AM
9

And I'll keep saying what I always say, a candidate (of any party) that appeals to "youth" is basically a charmer that probably has simplistic or vague positions.

Find out who the youth like, and vote for someone else.

Posted by JMR | February 1, 2008 10:59 AM
10

Well, did this happen in CT? Where Lieberman lost the primary? Well, CT elected him anyway.

Posted by Landis | February 1, 2008 11:02 AM
11

Find out who the youth like

WHOM the youth like. I think.

Posted by JMR | February 1, 2008 11:08 AM
12

JMR, that's the first coherent thing you've said here since, well, forever.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty | February 1, 2008 11:11 AM
13

@3 Maybe you need to find a more political group of 20somethings to talk to?

I hate how the "youth vote" is always written off. Maybe young people don't vote BECAUSE you write them off. Obama is the first candidate to reach out to young people before he even became a big contender for the democratic nomination. He appears to care what we think, and his message about moving into the future is something people under 30 can relate to.

Posted by SDizzle | February 1, 2008 11:13 AM
14

JMR, that's the first coherent thing you've said here since, well, forever.

Where does coherence get you in this world, anyway? Look at most politicians, for instance.

Posted by JMR | February 1, 2008 11:23 AM
15

Jacob Nickels is a youth voter. Wait, he can't vote, he's a felon.

Posted by ratcityreprobate | February 1, 2008 11:28 AM
16

the youth vote can freaking double, and it's still half or third the voting rate of middler aged and oldsterier folks.

Posted by unPC | February 1, 2008 11:38 AM
17

Nice try folks...

Any shred of statistics that helps HRC, and you vultures swoop in to provide contextual rhetoric

Posted by Obama is inevitable | February 1, 2008 11:47 AM
18

I'm pretty sure that it's still the Year of the Cat...

Posted by michael strangeways | February 1, 2008 11:47 AM
19

What gets me is I first started talking about the Tidal Wave in the WaPo and Bill probably got the phrase from me. After some of the columnists picked up the phrase I was using.

And right now I think Bill needs more time in the doghouse.

Posted by Will in Seattle | February 1, 2008 11:51 AM
20

oh, and 5280 @3, you can register to vote at the actual caucus location still - just please don't show up at 1pm try to get there around Noon on Feb. 9th, ok?

You can even register online - right now.

Posted by Will in Seattle | February 1, 2008 11:54 AM
21

the youth don't show up in the clutch. and make it to a caucus at 7 on a specific date?

the youth i raised are lucky if they're out of bed by that time.

Posted by max solomon | February 1, 2008 2:22 PM
22

We've heard this song before, back in 2004. The youth turn-out wasn't notably higher than in prior years.

Posted by A. | February 1, 2008 2:54 PM
23

You are completely delusional, Will.

Posted by Fnarf | February 1, 2008 5:44 PM
24

The youth wants to vote. We want the change, and we are ready to finally take it into our own hands. There is an information gap for most people under 25. Before today I didn't even know what a caucus was. An older woman told me it was coming up on the 9th and I freaked out. No one else at my campus really even knew about it. I have come across this webpage looking for an address in seattle to vote at the caucus.

WHERE IS IT?!

Posted by youthquake | February 6, 2008 3:36 PM

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