the failure of the youth vote. In the end, despite the best efforts of MTV, Michael Moore, et al, the youth voted at the same percentages as they did in '00. This is the unreliable base that Kerry was banking on, they fell well short. This was the difference in the election for Kerry. Bruce Springsteen's new song? Movin' to the UAE.
I disagree... I think the youth vote did come out.They just didnt vote for who MTV and P diddy told them to vote for.
Well they voted for Kerry by vast majority so you are right in that count. Keep in mind the percentage of young voters of the total voter turnout was statistcly the same...however the actual physical number of voters from 4 years ago did increase by a substantial margin. Thing is so did the other demographics as well, thus the percentages apear to suggest the young didn't respond when in actaulity it is not really true. So leave the kids alone!
I agree the youth vote did come out in droves. So did the evangelical/religious right in the boonies/hill countries of this country. They cancelled out the bump in the number of youth that came out.
The biggest story is really Bush receiving over 51% of the popular vote. I never thought that would happen.
I'm not surprised the youth voted failed. When it comes down to it there's just too many lazy slackers out there. Appararently a lot more than one thinks there are. The younger you are the more likely you are to be mostly wrapped up with whats going on in your own life rather then be concerned with whats going on around you. Whats more important to the average 18-24 yr old. Going out with friends or helping to try to change the country. I think we know the answer to that one.
I guess I should add an addendum to my original post, Onionsack is right, they did come out in greater numbers, but while people were saying that we can throw the LV models out the window because of this, no one took into account how much more motivated the religious right was to get out and elect GWB that they essentially drowned out any increased support from the 'Utes.
I would like to refer you to my post above. What failed was the campain efforts of Kerry & Co. There was no voting segment except the racial minortiy segment that was more pro-Kerry. The truth is the youth demo broke records in voter turnout this year...you can't hold Kerry's failure over our heads.
The biggest story is this: the Democrats got what they've always wanted. They got a big turnout and they got a huge increase in youth voting. But the Republicans matched the Democratic turnout vote for vote and then some. That means there's really nowhere for the Democrats to go for new votes next time around. They've maxed out their constituencies and they're in the minority. The Republicans have put together a majority party that not even the best mobilized Democratic get out the vote effort ever can overcome.
Voters 18-29 comprised 17% of the electorate. That's the exact same percentage as four years ago, but a higher total number. That group voted for Kerry by a margin of 54% to 45%. Do with those number what you like.
*I have a great image to post here, but I don't want to abuse the priviledge now that we just got it back.*
If it wasn't for the gay marriage amendments conservative turnout probably would not have been as high. Rove is ********ing genius.