Pictured above is Barack Obama visiting Iowa's Waukee High School last month. Why? There's a Students for Obama Club forming at Waubonsie. Does he like the W-A-U school cheers? What is the Senator from Illinois doing courting usually apathetic high school seniors and calling them "Barack Stars," in Iowa.Newsweek reports this week that Obama's campaign is hoping to turn the Iowa Caucuses next January into a youth movement, even though last time, 18-34 year-olds made up just 10 percent of Iowa Democratic caucus goers (12,000). You might find interesting the "even bothered to show up line." (is it an unfair slam on youthful slackers?) The question raised is the Obama campaign really in trouble if it desparately needs the youth vote?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21192590/site/newsweek/
Or will the risky strategy pay off because Obama's message has a chance to connect with a yet fairly un-tapped voting bloc. Do not think that you guys (18-34) don't vote though. In the 2004 presidential race, more than 1 million voters in the demographic cast ballots -- it was a record. There are just more voters in upper-age demographics.
And more on Obama, and demographics. Is the flap over his flagless lapel potentially damming to older, more patriotic, age groups? Linked is last week's story from the Chicago Sun-Times. See if you can count the ratio of Obama's statement on why he doesn't wear the flag pin, and the spinners who talked about what he said. Remember, in 1960, there were 6 speeches for every 1"spinned" analysis piece. Now, that ratio is 1:6.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/589718,CST-NWS-obama05.article
5 comments:
I think that this is a brilliant strategy. A lot of teens are supporting Obama and if he is acknowledging this--then he may tap a gold mine of votes. How many presidents really tried to connect with teens?
I think it is great that Obama is going out and trying to get the youth to vote. But I have to wonder, is he just trying to scrape up some more votes for himself or does he really care about getting the 18-34 year olds out to vote? I know that it is impossible for politicians to not think about how to get more votes, but I still think that his main motive for these little meet and greets should be to help get the younger generation to the polls, no matter what candidate they vote for.
Senator Obama is no dummy. He will try to get votes from any age group that he can. If the youth supports him in Iowa, I am sure he will be glad to take it. The idea in Iowa is not to finish third. First is great, second is OK, and third is really, really bad!
As for the lapel pin, I liked his answer when he said that it “became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.” People are too busy looking for symbols instead of deciding how they feel about the issues. I guess talking about symbols is easier than applying your brain and deciding where you stand.
Let's get our minds off of political fasion statements.
haha--political fashion statement---extremely clever. I would agree that this is definitely a positive strategy, not only statistically but also makes a statement about the youth generation. Obama's campaing as a whole has a youthful connotation to it which could really spark more efficacy in the political arena...today the majority of the youth remain apathetic to politics and current events--I myself was a victim of this before the blog--so I think this is an excellent strategy--even if he doesn't win he'll have aroused much sentiment within the youth.
I agree that this isn't just about getting votes - it's about appearing youthful. That's his campaign right there...new life, new hope, change. There's Students for Barack Obama groups springing up everywhere thanks to the system that's been set in place (though I should mention that Obama's people didn't come up with the idea...the whole thing was started by one student group that started a website to invite/connect others...it grew huge and then Obama's campaign integrated it). I wish that our school's club would do more. It's hard coming up with ideas of what to do though...besides rallying people to go to Iowa and other volunteering trips. Does anyone here have any ideas?
Post a Comment