2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Surprise: Bernie Sanders's Youth Revolution Loved Rallies More Than Actually Voting [View all]Beacool
(30,250 posts)"There are two articles circulating right now that speak volumes about the Democratic primary race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in California and beyond. One in particular offers probably the most predictable and revealing bit of information to come out of the whole protracted contest. It's a piece in the San Francisco Chronicle that details all the ways that, despite their deafening roar both online and at rallies, Sanders's rowdy Millennial fan base basically let him down. In the article, titled "Young Voters' Low Turnout Led To Sanders' Big Loss," Paul Mitchell, vice president of Political Data Inc., states unequivocally that the young (voters)... were Bernies key supporters ... and they didnt show up." The article adds that while 25% of California's record surge of over two million new registrants were under the age of 35, only about 10% of those voters actually cast a ballot. Now, eliminating any conspiracy theories about voter suppression Sanders's more fanatical base might be inclined to offer up as an explanation, that's a pretty surprising number of people who sat the election out."
Bottom line, the young are "fickle". Hillary held smaller events, but her supporters showed up where it mattered: at the voting booth.