Young Pennsylvania Voters attracted to Obama

Young Pennsylvania voters take a shine to Obama

Sun Apr 20, 2008 9:17am EDT

[-] Text [+]

1 of 9Full Size

powered by Sphere

By Paul Eckert

PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is attracting record numbers of young voters -- but will a demographic known for low turnout vote in enough numbers to defeat Hillary Clinton in the graying state of Pennsylvania?

Attracted by opposition to the Iraq war, antipathy to President George W. Bush or Clinton -- and Obama's aura of "hope" -- Pennsylvanians in the 18-29 age bracket are rallying, registering and switching parties like never before.

At the University of Pittsburgh, a "power rally" by Pitt Students for Obama got 2,000 students to register as Democrats in order to vote for the senator. The state does not allow independents to vote in primary contests.

"There were a lot of independents and Republicans who support Senator Obama who had to switch their registration for Tuesday's primary," said Sarah Posner, 21, the group's leader.

Pennsylvania is the next battleground for Clinton and Obama in their contest for the right to face Republican John McCain in the November election.

The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement, or CIRCLE, which has tracked youth voting since the U.S. voting age was lowered to 18 in 1972, says this year has seen the highest national registration rate in history among those under 30.

Youth turnout in some state primaries this year tripled or even quadrupled over the previous presidential election, said CIRCLE Director Peter Levine.

NO LOBBYISTS, BETTER U.S. IMAGE Continued...

View article on single page

Previous Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Next Page

Obama's Sleeping Giant: Young Voters

Since the campaign started nearly a year ago, the Obama campaign has carefully courted and organized young people to support his candidacy. Indeed, it was a group of young supporters known as Students for Barack Obama that helped orchestrate the drive for Obama to run in the first place.

If these young people do actually awake and turn out on Feb. 5, the Illinois senator could shock everyone with a tsunami victory. If not, then it will be much, much tougher. Of course, there are other important factors like independent voters, cross-over voters, etc., but none quite so difficult to predict as young voters.

According the U.S. census, about 10.46 percent of the Iowa population is between 18 and 24 years old. In comparison, New Hampshire has about 9.13 percent in the same category and Nevada only 8.55 percent.

South Carolina, which just finished voting today, has 9.72 percent in the 18-24 range. We saw today a masterful example of how getting out the vote should be done.

Tsunami Tuesday states with high percentages of young people include North Dakota (12.86%), Utah (12.51%), Alaska (10.70%), Kansas (10.59%), New Mexico (10.48%), California (10.38%), Minnesota (10.07%) and New York (10.04%).

In traditional voter turnout among Feb. 5 states, Minnesota (43%) and Massachusetts (34%) are standouts.

Much of Barack's support among young people is found at the nation's colleges and universities. California had the leading number of fall enrollment in 2005 with 2,399,833 at degree-granting institutions followed by New York, among Feb. 5 states, with 1,152,081.

Hillary Clinton's campaign understands Barack's appeal to young people and recently she has highlighted her programs to cut tuition fees and reign in predatory student lenders. Her daughter Chelsea and Hollywood stars like America Fererra can also be expected to make circuits of college campuses for Hillary.

Obama may have a bit of a lead here though with hundreds of college chapters of Students for Barack Obama created over the last year. It will be up to his supporters though to make sure these chapters are energized to spread the word and get out the youth vote.

Mobilizing Voters

Not a task to be taken lightly especially in lower income neighborhoods and college communities.

Problems can range from long lines to lack of transportation. One good thing is that the Nevada caucuses and South Carolina primary are both taking place on Saturday, so most voters shouldn't have work conflicts. Note though that casinos are 24/7 operations. Feb. 5 polls fall on the normal voting day of Tuesday with all the associated problems.

The traditional methods of getting out the vote include phone-banking, canvassing, rallies, providing transportation, waving signs, etc. It's important to let supporters not excuse themselves from voting specifically for Barack Obama thinking that just a single vote won't matter anyway.

For those who can't go to Nevada and don't have free long distance for phone-banking, there are some ways to help online.

First of all you can join barackobama.com, if you haven't already.

Obviously if you know anyone in a voting state, you can send them an email or text message letting them know about your support of Barack.

For some ideas on online or netroots campaigning, try some of these links:

Action Center

Obama Mobile

Rate up good Obama news (works on YouTube also)

baracktivator

Publicizing your events with online calendars

Barack's "Youthroots"

Sam Graham-Felsen writes about Barack Obama's "youthroots" -- his unprecedented suport among young people -- who are usually thought of as apathetic towards politics.

" "He has unimaginable appeal to my generation,' says Brian Klaas of Carleton College, editor of the Carleton Progressive. For many 18- to 26-year-olds--who are among the most diverse and, according to numerous polls, most tolerant American generation in history--Obama's multiracial background embodies the personal and political identity of the Generation Y cohort known as "Millennials."

" In a Chicago Reader interview from 1995, Barack Obama wondered, "What if a politician were to see his job as that of an organizer?" If Obama can show his young followers that he's still that grassroots organizer--a rock star perhaps, but one who listens to, trusts and empowers his base to come on stage and rock with him--it's going to be one hell of a show."

Mo Money

The Obama camp bagged another top fundraiser, again in Hillary Clinton country, when Steven Gluckstern, an investment banker and former owner of the New York Islanders committed to the campaign.

A Newsweek article discusses the deep pockets in both parties, of which, Obama has some of the deepest including Peter Buttenwieser, George Soros and Alan Solomont. It is highly likely though that small internet contributions will drive the campaign much the same way that they fueled Dean's 2004 effort.