The Gallup numbers can be found here.
Regardless of this latest slip, Obama still retains a strong advantage among youth voters. Plenty of theories have been thrown around about why that is: Obama is younger and hip, young voters are latching on to his idealism, his campaign is using new technology like text messaging/Facebook, etc. What hasn’t been discussed as much is that young people may see Obama as a means of empowerment.
Obama’s whole platform of change is a call to arms for a new, younger generation to rise to power, a message that appeals deeply to young voters. Obama’s cry for more fundamental change than policy tweaks, his calling out of older, entrenched politicians, his idealism — it all evokes a vision of Obama leading a group of pragmatic 20-somethings in a grand coup of old-time Washington, foot on Dick Cheney’s throat and all. For young voters, the imagery is intoxicating.
Obama’s own rhetoric supports the notion. “In this election, it’s our turn; it’s your generation’s turn,” he’s said. Another line has popped up in a number of his speeches: “We are the one’s we’ve been waiting for.” I’m with you, not them, Obama seems to be telling young voters.
It’s an idea supported by USC’s own Ann Crigler, a politics expert. As she told the Chicago Tribune last year, “He has this message of hopefulness and change, and the attachment of youth to that is very important in signaling, ‘The new generation is with me, and it's time for a new generation of political leadership.’”
Not that an Obama victory will catapult young people everywhere into positions of power, but Obama seems to stand with young people when they say, “We’re what’s next.” Because Obama doesn’t just support the new generation but represents it in every way, young voters have come to see him as a means of empowerment.
1 comment:
It will be interesting to see whether or not America's youth will show up at the polls. Part of the Obama campaign's strategy is to register as many new voters as possible. I guess we will see.
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