Research Briefing

Obama And Dems Desperately Try To Rally Their Youth Vote, But Young Americans Are Disenchanted With Obama’s Failed Policies

“President Obama And Vice President Joe Biden Are Going Back To School This Week. Obama Travels To Madison, Wisconsin On Tuesday To Headline A Rally At The University Of Wisconsin While Biden Heads To Penn State To Fire Up Voters -- Particularly The Younger Crowd -- In The Two Key Battleground States.” (Michael Falcone & Amy Walter, “Giving It The Old College Try,” ABC’s The Note Blog, 9/27/10)

OBAMA AND DEMS TRYING TO REENGAGE THEIR YOUNGER VOTERS

“Thousands” Are Expected At Wisconsin Rally. “On Tuesday, the president is scheduled to hold an old-fashioned campaign rally on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Party officials said they expected thousands to cram onto Library Mall, an outside setting, to see Mr. Obama.” (Michael D. Shear, “An Effort To Recapture Democratic Enthusiasm,” The New York Times’ The Caucus Blog, 9/26/10)

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine Will Also Be Holding A Rally At The University Of Delaware. “Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine plans to join senate candidate Chris Coons at a democratic organizing rally at the University of Delaware. Organizers say Tuesday's ‘Moving America Forward’ rally will focus on getting college students and young voters politically engaged.”  (“DNC Chairman Visits UD With Coons,” The Associated Press, 9/26/10)

• Kaine Said That Young People Have Been “Critical” For Obama And The Dems. “‘Young people have been critical to the movement that elected President Obama in 2008, and from health reform to credit card and student loan reform young people benefited from the change President Obama and Democrats have brought to the country,’ DNC Chairman Tim Kaine said in a statement.’ (Ariel Shapiro, “Obama Rally To Take Place At Library Mall,” The Daily Cardinal, 9/23/10)

“The President And Vice President Remember The Power Of College Students From The Presidential Elections, Michaels Said, And They Are Calling On Students Again. ‘It’s An Effort To Recreate The Magic Of 2008,’ He Said. ‘We Need Them Again To Organize And Turn Out In Record Numbers To Keep Progress Moving Forward.’” (Katrina Wehr, “Biden Rallies For Voters’ Support,” The Penn State Collegian, 9/24/10)

BUT AFTER ALMOST TWO YEARS OF FAILED OBAMA POLICIES,

MANY ARE DISENGAGED AND MORE CYNICAL  

60 Percent Of Young Voters Are “More Cynical About Politics” Now Than They Were When Obama Was Elected. “While nearly 60 percent say they're more cynical about politics than they were two years ago, their spirit is not broken yet.” (Lucia Graves, “Poll: Young Republicans More Excited, Engaged Than Dems,” The Huffington Post, 9/15/10)

Excitement Among Young Voters Has Died Down Significantly. “Ben Anderstone will never forget the energy and optimism he felt surrounding Barack Obama's election in 2008 -- the first year Anderstone could vote. ‘In the weeks leading up to the election, my Facebook page was just completely lit up with politics and people debating the various positions on issues,’ said Anderstone, 20, of Tacoma, Wash. ‘It was an exciting time. But this year,’ he said, ‘I'm just not seeing that. ... Now people are more inclined to talk about how broken and ineffective the system is.’” (Jack Broom, “For Young Voters, '08 Energy Ebbs,” The [Memphis] Commercial Appeal, 9/7/10)

• “The Euphoria Has Dimmed Down.” “Another student, Madeline Coyne, 21, said she waited in line to see Obama when he spoke on campus in 2008. Now, she said, ‘the euphoria has dimmed down.’ Still, would she vote on Nov. 2? ‘At the midterm elections?’ Coyne asked. ‘Probably not.’”  (Philip Rucker & Anne E. Kornblut, “Obama Looks To Reenergize Youth Vote, Get Late Democratic Surge For Midterms,” The Washington Post, 9/27/10)
• Recent Law School Graduate: “That Inspiration Is Dying Away.” “Mr. President. My name is Ted Brassfield. I'm 30 years old, I recently graduated law school. … Like a lot of people in my generation, I was really inspired by you and by your campaign and message that you brought, and that inspiration is dying away.” (Transcript, “Investing In America: A CNBC Town Hall Event With President Obama,” CNBC, 9/20/10)

During A Recent Speech At An Ohio Community College, Students Had To Be Recruited To Fill Empty Seats. “President Barack Obama used a podium at Cuyahoga County Community College Wednesday to contrast his economic vision for the country with that of Republicans … But an hour before the speech, at least 75 students were recruited from classrooms and hallways to fill vacant seats. ‘Someone came into my English class and asked if we wanted to go to the speech,’ said Jillian Fizer of Olmsted Falls after the event. ‘Only seven out of about 27 raised their hand. I was surprised.” (Sabrina Eaton, “President Obama Contrasts Himself With Republicans In Parma Speech,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/9/10)

Young Republicans, More Enthusiastic, Are Paying More Attention To The Midterms Than Young Democrats. “The GOP enjoys a nine-point enthusiasm advantage over Democrats: 60 percent of young Republicans indicated they are very likely to vote, as compared to 51 percent of young Democrats. They also have a five-point interest advantage -- 20 percent to 15 percent -- among young voters who say they are paying a lot of attention to the election.” (Lucia Graves, “Poll: Young Republicans More Excited, Engaged Than Dems,” The Huffington Post, 9/15/10)

• Young Adults “Have An Improving Image Of The Republican Party,” And Share The Same Concerns As “Nearly Every” GOP Candidate. “’This data makes clear that there is real value for Republican candidates to target voters under age 30,’ Nienaber said. ‘These voters have an improving image of the Republican Party. In addition, the top concerns of these voters are the same pocketbook issues that are the focus of nearly every Republican candidate in the country.’” (Alison Harding, “Youth Vote Still ‘Up For Grabs,’ Rock The Vote Says,” CNN, 9/15/10)

MAYBE IT’S BECAUSE YOUNG AMERICANS ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH JOBS THAN POLITICS

“Top Issues For Young People Included Unemployment And The National Debt, At 96 Percent And 93 Percent Respectively.” (Lucia Graves, “Poll: Young Republicans More Excited, Engaged Than Dems,” The Huffington Post, 9/15/10)

• Currently, The Unemployment Rate Among Those 20-24 Years Of Age Is 14.9 Percent, Up From 13.2 Percent When The Stimulus Was Passed.  (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 9/23/10)

2.4 Million Recent College Grads Have Joined The Millions Of Out Of Work Workers Looking For Jobs. “About 2.4 million students will graduate with bachelor's and associates degrees as part of the Class of 2010, says the National Center for Education Statistics. Those job-seekers will go head-to-head not only with fellow classmates but also with laid-off workers, financially strapped retirees and still-unemployed 2009 and 2008 grads.” (Laura Petrecca, “Toughest Test Comes After Graduation: Getting A Job,” USA Today, 5/12/10)

• “Given The Bleak National Outlook For Post-Collegiate Hiring, Perhaps They Should Have Suited Up In Sturdier Combat Attire: They And Their Fellow Graduates Nationwide Face A Fierce Battle Just To Secure A Job Interview, Let Alone Full-Time Employment.” (Laura Petrecca, “Toughest Test Comes After Graduation: Getting A Job,” USA Today, 5/12/10)