Fewer Young Voters See Themselves as Democrats

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The college vote is up for grabs this year — to an extent that would have seemed unlikely two years ago, when a generation of young people seemed to swoon over Barack Obama.

Though many students are liberals on social issues, the economic reality of a weak job market has taken a toll on their loyalties: far fewer 18- to 29-year-olds now identify themselves as Democrats compared with 2008.

“Is the recession, which is hitting young people very hard, doing lasting or permanent damage to what looked like a good Democratic advantage with this age group?” asked Scott Keeter, the director of survey research at the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan group. “The jury is still out.”

How and whether millions of college students vote will help determine if Republicans win enough seats to retake the House or Senate, overturning the balance of power on Capitol Hill, and with it, Mr. Obama’s agenda. If students tune out and stay home it will also carry a profound message for American society about a generation that seemed so ready, so recently, to grab national politics by the lapels and shake.

All those questions are in play here in Larimer County, about an hour north of Denver, for the more than 25,000 students at Colorado State University.

Larimer, like much of Colorado, was once solidly Republican but went Democratic in the last few elections and is now contested by both sides. It is seen as a signal beacon for an increasingly unpredictable state.

Kristin Johnson, 23, like many other students interviewed here in recent days, said that a vote for Democrats in 2008, however passionate it was, did not a Democrat make. But she bristles just as much at the idea of being called a Republican.

As an exMasshole and life long Conservative, thanks Grandpa, I have noticed a rightward movement among the under 40 crowd, my kids.

My son has from day one has thought that voting rat should be a hanging offense but I was amazed when my daughter, three Degrees, started talking Conservative and I pick up the same noise from their friends, maybe times they are a changing.

My daughter’s government class at the local junior college today had an interesting discussion regarding our current state of affairs and our government.

When the instructor asked how many watched Obama’s speech on Wednesday, it was discovered NO ONE in the class watched his speech.

When asked by the instructor how many identified themselves as Democrats only 3 raised their hands.

When asked what their thoughts were on the type of government we have in America, the entire class stated our form of government is the BEST in the world. The problem is not with the form of government, but the corruption which seems to be pervasive among politicians of both parties.

The students stated they did not want to change the government we were founded on, just the politicians.

They also wanted the government agencies to SHRINK, they wanted LESS taxes, and they wanted the government out of their lives.

Several who had lived in other countries (besides Mexico!) stated that what they liked about this country were the freedoms we enjoyed here.

My daughter was able to express her conservative viewpoints without feeling intimidated by the instructor or fellow students. Surprisingly, as she explained her conservative positions on issues, others in the class joined in agreeing with her.

I thought their responses were interesting.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.