Posted on 04/11/2012 5:14:54 PM PDT by neverdem
The “luster of Obama’s promises has worn off” and “hope” and “change” no longer drive young voters. In 2008, the “millennial” generation, comprising those between the ages of 18 to 29, voted for President Obama by a margin of 2–1. In 2004, President Bush lost this demographic by nine points to John Kerry. But, for the first time in over a decade, it appears the trend has reversed — young Americans are now reconsidering their allegiances to the Democratic party. Why have the millennials, the group that Obama has described as “the foundation of [his] campaign,” abandoned him? To quote another Democratic campaign, “it’s the economy, stupid.”
According to research conducted for Resurgent Republic, a conservative policy organization, young voters are no longer enamored with the president because of the current state of the economy. The millennials chosen for the focus groups were all self-identified independents who had voted for Obama in 2008 but were now undecided on the generic ballot. The dramatic effects of the “Great Recession” had shifted the mindsets of these younger Americans — unemployment amongst this crucial Obama demographic is currently at its highest point since the end of World War II.
Furthermore, among the millennials interviewed, there was a “palpable sense of underemployment” according to Luke Frans of Resurgent Republic. Although these young voters still like Obama personally, they now hold him responsible for his policies. Discussions of “hope” and “change” only elicited cynicism from them. A young North Carolinian surveyed said that President Obama “promised the moon and could not even deliver the upper atmosphere,” while another voter from Raleigh complained that “we expected a lot more.”
Resurgent Republic is not the only group to have discovered this trend among younger voters. Generation Opportunity, a new, non-partisan organization that seeks to organize millennials on economic issues, has also found rising dissatisfaction over Obama’s handling of the economy from previously ardent supporters. Its polling of young Americans across the country shows that 54 percent believe America is heading in the wrong direction. According to Paul Conway, the president of Generation Opportunity, the “number one overwhelming issue [for them], which folks deal with everyday, is the lack of jobs in America.” Generation Opportunity has found that the current economy has forced 77 percent of millennials to put their lives on hold. Many are delaying buying a home, saving for retirement, paying off debt, returning to school, or starting a family.
Millennials around the country are echoing these findings. Chris Pizzo, a 27-year-old lawyer in Florida, insists that there are “serious doubts among young voters and young Americans” about this economy. Chris says that even his “company, [which is] looking to expand and grow,” is “seeing individuals looking to work with us” who are significantly overqualified, “as traditional options aren’t there.” Trevor Brownlow, an 18-year-old freshman at University of North Carolina Chapel-Hill, describes how the economy has left him “unsettled,” and forced him to ask himself “what opportunities are out there?” The millennials are looking for concrete plans for an economic recovery — whether it is deficit reduction, lower gas prices, or tax cuts. Deficit reduction is of particular interest to this younger generation, as there is a realization that they will be stuck with the ramifications of the federal government’s overspending.
Independent millennials that are leaning Republican are focused solely on the economy and are not being drawn to the Republican party by social issues. In fact, according to Luke Frans, the millennials in the Resurgent Republic focus groups refused to discuss the Republican party’s social views. In other interviews, millennials have noted that they preferred the Republican party’s leadership on the economy, but could not bring themselves to vote for a Republican out of distaste for current GOP positions on gay marriage and abortion.
For the general election, the path is clear. Millennials will be a key factor in the swing states. If they vote in similar numbers for President Obama, then it will be nearly impossible for the Republican candidate to triumph. However, these younger voters can be swayed by a strong economic plan. If the GOP seizes upon millennial disillusionment with the Democratic party, they could secure an entirely new Republican constituency.
— Nathaniel Botwinick is an editorial intern at National Review
(Article)
According to research conducted for Resurgent Republic, a conservative policy organization, young voters are no longer enamored with the president because of the current state of the economy. ....
Resurgent Republic is not the only group to have discovered this trend among younger voters. Generation Opportunity, a new, non-partisan [501c(3), no doubt] organization that seeks to organize millennials on [RiNO] economic issues, has also found rising dissatisfaction over Obama’s handling of the economy from previously ardent supporters. Its polling of young Americans across the country shows that 54 percent believe America is heading in the wrong direction. According to Paul Conway, the president of Generation Opportunity, the “number one overwhelming issue [for them], which folks deal with everyday, is the lack of jobs in America.” ....Independent millennials that are leaning Republican are focused solely on the economy and are not being drawn to the Republican party by social issues. In fact, according to Luke Frans, the millennials in the Resurgent Republic focus groups refused to discuss the Republican party’s social views. In other interviews, millennials have noted that they preferred the Republican party’s leadership on the economy, but could not bring themselves to vote for a Republican out of distaste for current GOP positions on gay marriage and abortion. [Payload paragraph]
The RiNO's want to walk away from social conservatives so badly, they will a) say anything and b) quote Democrats back to us to prove that social conservatives are "wrong".
Given that two RiNO NGO's were involved, one of them a brand-new one that hasn't had its tax-exempt status revoked yet, this is obviously the intellectual platform on which the Romney campaign is going to be run in the general.
Conservatives were right: Romney's back-office guys are telling us the GOP thinks it's time to ditch conservatism, and even American patriotism, altogether for a technocratic, instrumentalist platform.
Someone forgot to tell Ronald Reagan how wrong he was, and he accidentally swept the nation twice. No more mistakes!
Sad but true, dear grey_whiskers!
You tend to turn right when you start having kids. This has been human nature for uncounted millennia.
I’m on the older end of this generation, 28 and half. I like the term Gen Y better.
As these people notice their smaller paychecks, if they get one at all, they will become less liberal.
Currently 41 percent of children are born to single mothers, most of whom are low-income women...
How do you think they're going to vote?
I’m with you. I think I’m closer to the millenial gen though — I’m 34 :) as is Ben too! But we are conservatives
Have you by a few years. Turned 64 last December.
Never was a part of the boomer generation (except by age). Grew up in a time warp in the middle of the “Big Nothing” in TX.
All of us need to stay strong this year, especially -- Obama OUT!
And forgot to mention, first voted when Richard Nixon was candidate for President. Have always been Republican, long before it was “acceptable” and certainly before it was “fashionable’ to be GOP in TX.
Not a rebel, but refused to take part. But I would like to remind you that Texas was fiscally conservative, even when it was 100% Dem country. None of the fiscal conservatives are left in the Dem Party now. Dem Party = Communist now.
This millenial is very conservative, believes the Constitution means exactly what it says, and despises the statists in government of all sizes. I’m just one voter, but I’m at least as conservative and constitutionalist as my father, and more so than some right here on FR.
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