By Michelle Westgate
According to reports recently released, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and the GOP as a whole are losing ground with young voters.
Studies show a trend of young people not only registered to vote, but leaning toward the Democratic Party. According to a Rock the Vote study released in February 2008, 47 percent of young adults, ages 18-29, identified themselves as Democrats, 28 percent as Republicans and 16 percent as independents.
This study suggested that Democratic young people are more excited about the upcoming election and are more likely to vote than their Republican counterparts. It was also shown that young people from both main parties are concerned about the economy above all other issues.
The study, conducted by Lake Research, had a base sample of only 668 people and a margin of error of 4.4 percent. It was weighted slightly by region, race, party identification, and phone usage.
A report released by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), a non-partisan organization managed by the University of Maryland, found that the voter registration rate for presidential elections has reached its highest levels in 30 years. Results also indicate that young people with some level of college education are more likely to vote in upcoming elections.
Another CIRCLE study said voter registration rates in the 2004 presidential election reached 70 percent among young voters. This was found to be significant because registering to vote is the hardest step in the election process for young people. Once young people are registered, they are more likely to participate by voting in the election.
In the Super Tuesday primaries, CIRCLE reported that more than 2 million young people participated in the Democratic contests and only 900,000 participated in the Republican contests. Most supported Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for the national election, according to exit polls.
A group of University students traveled to Washington, D.C. this past weekend in its annual trip to educate and promote interest in politics and civic engagement. On this trip, students had the opportunity to visit the Republican National Committee (RNC), and listen to an educational presentation.
Nancy Dehlinger, an RNC educational spokesperson, addressed the students. She explained that the RNC is trying to reach young people through an e-campaign, specifically using YouTube as a significant outreach tool.
Dehlinger could not comment on policy issues related to the race, but when asked about the GOP response to a lack of support by young people, she did not express strong concern. She repeatedly suggested that the Republicans were in a good position in this election year.
“The voting base has to be there,” Dehlinger said. “If the voters aren’t active and involved, their candidate will not get elected.”
Students in attendance were not impressed by the presentation, and some said this poor representation by the GOP is the reason why young people are turning to the Democratic Party.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may be known for his heroism, but many University students did not feel a connection to him or to his party.
“He is a hero, but he is only talking about it and not portraying it enough,” said Alisha Powell, senior political science major who was on the trip, referring to McCain. “He is not as personal as the other candidates.”
“He is a wonderful patriot, but he’s not exciting,” said Jordan Firestein, freshman political science major.
Bryan Barnes, a senior political science major and secretary of the College Republicans, said that up to this point, a lack of interest on the part of students did not have a huge affect on club membership.
In an effort to inform University students about party interests, the College Republicans will be hosting an Islamo-Fascism awareness week from April 7 to April 11.
Information on speakers and events were not available at the time, but would be distributed to students by fliers handed out prior to the events.