1954-1965
Posted on 01/04/2008 3:51:25 PM PST by unspun
Iowa Caucus Results Show that 'Spin' is Out, Authenticity is In, as Presidential Candidates Must Match the Generational Characteristics of the Youth Vote
NEW YORK, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The victories of Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama with a good showing for John McCain in Iowa demonstrate that spin is out and authenticity is in, as Presidential candidates address the most important voting block in the 2008 race: Generations X and Y.
"Some have overlooked what Iowans told us with certainty last night - a critical factor in this election is not race, religion, or gender, but speaking the language of Generation X, the language of authenticity and with the tone of optimism and hope of Generation Y," said Ann A. Fishman (www.annfishman.com), President of New Orleans-based Generational-Targeted Marketing Corp. and a commentator on generational trends in politics and culture.
She continued, "Generation X, born between 1961 and 1981, are a huge block of voters in this year's election, and a major key to victory. Although they are proud to be the first generation to consider themselves both color-blind and gender-neutral, they will not elect a President for those reasons alone, nor on the basis of party affiliation. Being practical-minded and averse to being 'sold' on spin or empty promises, they are looking for candidates who address them with authenticity and passion, and not as mere partisans - so far, Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama have connected with them on this level."
"GENERATION Y, born between 1982 and 2000 are the second key to the road to the White House. While Huckabee, Obama and McCain remained true to themselves, a trait necessary for the new-style politics of Gen X, the idealism and hope Obama and Huckabee displayed, perfectly match the optimism and civic-mindedness of Generation Y."
As exit and entrance polling made clear, Obama and Huckabee garnered a disproportionate share of Gen X voters and GEN Y voters in Iowa, to supplement the strength of the former among women, and the latter among Evangelical Christians.*
Based on Fishman's research into the habits and values of the working generations - Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y -, each generation brings a distinctive set of traits, habits and characteristics. These are important as keys to understanding political dynamics and voting patterns in elections.
Fishman concluded, "Understanding the changeover, now underway in American society, from the values of Baby Boomers to those of Generation X and generation Y is a key to understanding what moves contemporary voters and their attitudes. Candidates would do well to heed the call - as it seems, Huckabee and Obama have begun to do."
About Generations X, Y and the Baby Boomers Generation Xers are "latch-key kids," children of Baby Boomers whose divorce rates were high. Xers had to fend for themselves from an early age and are a generation of practical "survivors" whose attitudes are reflected in their politics, values and consumer preferences.
Baby Boomers are the 79 million Americans who were born between 1943 and 1960. Among other trends, they presided over the relaxation of societal standards in a variety of areas, including the liberalization of rules governing the traditional family, loosening strictures on corporate responsibility and the popularization of the drug culture.
Generation Y feels empowered. This generation was raised with the societal supports necessary for young children - strong families, strong religious upbringing and strong government programs for the disadvantaged. This is a generation that wants a voice in its future.
*"Polls of Iowa voters as they entered the caucuses showed that Obama outpolled Clinton among women, and benefited from a surge in first-time caucus-goers and young voters . . . In their victory speeches, Obama and Huckabee struck similar cords and distinguished themselves from their respective fields portraying themselves as unifiers and change agents who didn't view the world in simply Republican and Democratic hues."*
- Associated Press story, January 4, 2008 About Ann Fishman and Generational Targeted-Marketing More information on Ann Fishman's generational expertise can be found at www.annfishman.com/ . Fishman's company, Generational-Targeted Marketing Corp. (GTM), is a specialized marketing firm providing insight into consumer preferences, buying habits and trends affecting the American consumer. As GTM's president, Fishman has served as a consultant to numerous corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations on generational issues and also serves as a member of the Adjunct Faculty at New York University. For further information on GTM, call 1-504-813-7890.
Contact: Michael Frenkel, MFC PR (212) 808-6556/michael@mfcpr.com
SOURCE Ann Fishman and Generational Targeted-Marketing
Michael Frenkel of MFC PR, +1-212-808-6556, or michael@mfcpr.com, for Ann Fishman and Generational Targeted-Marketing
Apparently. LOL!
I'm a bit older than you (born in 1974) but my earliest election memory is also of Reagan in 1980. In fact my father insisted on bringing me to the Inauguration and although I had no interest at six years old (would rather have played with my Barbies), I am so grateful that I attended. The memories are priceless.
ROTFLMAO!
I swear if I hear “Agent of Change” one more time I’m gonna be sick. Wonder who coined that one? Must be Obama.
I think Gen Xand Y were instrumental in Obama but like my 19 year old daughter sez.....all her pals support Ron Paul
no war and free dope....what’s not to love right?
I doubt kids had much to do with Huckster
Kids have always voted more lefty as a rule since messianic humanism took off 100 years ago....today is no different
>>He was and so what? Mitt being from the NE isn’t going to do it for him in NH either.<<
My point was that Clinton’s poor performance in Iowa was not taken seriously since he didn’t campaign there and Harken was from Iowa. If Harkin lost Iowa or Romney loses New Hampshire it would be news.
If Xers were born between '61 and '81, and Boomers were born between '45 and '64, what do you call those who were born between '61 and '64? Xoomers? (I'm asking because both my wife and I are in this group.)
Ah, excellent point, thanks for pointing that out.
Ed Rollins should be dismissed.
If Huckabee won’t dismiss Rollins, how about loose cannons in the cabinet, etc.?
More properly, his *re*election campaign.
— and Rollins is an example of the kind of guy who should stick to private life, it seems.
I was born in ‘63, but I consider myself a boomer, because my father was WWII generation; my mom was silent generation...
It’s quite possible that no one of the silent generation will ever be elected President...George H.W. Bush (1924), just at the end of the WWII generation, followed by Clinton (1946), the first of the boomers...
Fred Thompson (1942) and Rudy Giuliani (1944) have a shot...this is probably McCain’s (1936) last chance...
1954-1965
Well, they got the timeline of Gen X and Y wrong. Baby boomers are 1946-1965, which makes Gex X between 1966-1985, and Gen Y between 1986-2005.
1946 is the start of the boomers as it is AFTER the war is over. Generations generally run 20 years at a crack.
Splitting a small hair, but it peeves me they screw this up.
Born in 1959 and sure didn’t identify with the weird “baby boom generation” — nor the MTV generation.
I actually remember the last half of Carter’s presidency... At least bits and pieces of it. I have a very vivid memory of hearing the # of days that the hostages had been held in Iran — it was like day 127 or 167 — I know it was less than 200 days...
And, yes, there was a mock election in our school, too... I think I was in 3rd grade? LOL It was a TOTAL landslide in our mock election too — but then what would you expect in an Upper Middle Class Catholic school, especially with Reagan? LOL
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