Reply #32: Power of the youth vote

[tbyg52]

THERE is a fundamental campaign axiom that handlers like to repeat: Young people don't vote.

But if the early trends set by victors Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama at last week's Iowa caucuses continue into New Hampshire tomorrow and beyond, that age-old maxim could become well, old news.

The youth vote, that is, those 18-29 years-old, along with those who had never "caucused" before, helped the Illinois senator defeat Hillary Clinton and John Edwards Thursday. Huckabee, a Baptist minister, was helped by the large number of GOP voters who described themselves as evangelicals - about 60 percent. Yet, his populist message may appeal to young Republicans more than that of Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain, his chief opponents in New Hampshire as well.

While one caucus, even voters in the next primary in the Granite State, does not a trend make, there are factors in play that could awaken a part of the electorate that has been mostly sleeping since 18-year-olds got the right to vote in 1976, with the exception of the slight bump that occurred in the 1992 presidential election.

More:
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_7898408