Apr 11 2008
The power of the youth vote – something the supers should consider
Young Obama Backers Twist Parents’ Arms
This is becoming a common thing among superdelegates that are coming forward on the sides of both candidates. I heard Walter Mondale a few weeks ago on the radio talk about how his grandchildren were Obama supporters, while he’s a Clinton superdelegate. Jimmy Carter recently talked about how his children and grandchildren are for Obama. Pennsylvania senator Bob Casey and Missouri senator Claire McCaskill are just two Obama superdelegates that have cited the influence of their children in choosing to support the Illinois senator.
This is a side of courting the youth vote that no really seemed to consider until recently. Obama has laid claim to a lot of young voters and their enthusiasm is palpable. We’re all used to the idea that you often (though not always) inherit your political views from your parents, but it seems that there may be a little bit of a role reversal going on now.
And it’s the power and fervor of this demographic that should be huge consideration of the Democratic superdelegates. We’re talking about a group of voters that may be voting in their first or second presidential election. They’re excited about voting. They care about their candidate. Imagine what will happen if you take all of that away from them by overruling the will of the voters. Do you think they’ll come back the next time around?
