'Generation Gap' Widens in the 2008 Electorate

[question everything]

The Wall Street Journal


'Generation Gap' Widens in the 2008 Electorate
Young Voters in Poll Flock to Obama; Old Favor McCain
By LAURA MECKLER
July 24, 2008; Page A6

WASHINGTON -- Voter preferences have long been split by race and gender, but this year's election is adding another divide: a sharp age gap. Democrat Barack Obama has a strong lead among younger voters, and Republican John McCain is solidly in front among older voters. That divide has grown in the past month, according to the Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

(snip)

On age, the poll found that 55% of voters aged 18 to 34 prefer the 46-year-old Sen. Obama, while 31% favored Sen. McCain. That 24-point edge is up from a 13-point advantage for Sen. Obama in last month's survey. Sen. McCain, who turns 72 next month, would be the oldest person elected to a first term as president. At the same time, Sen. McCain's lead has ticked up among the oldest voters. He is now favored by 51% of those aged 65 and up, versus 41% for Sen. Obama. That 10-point gap is up from seven points in June.

(snip)

Sen. Obama also leads among voters between 35 and 64, though the race is much tighter -- just single digits -- than it is on either end of the age spectrum. Much has been made of Sen. Obama's remarkable success in recruiting young people to his campaign. Turnout in the primaries among voters under 30 was substantial, and the campaign has made a major effort to register and turn out these supporters. While older people have a better track record at turning out to vote, there is greater potential to increase the youth share of the total electorate. "If Barack Obama is going to win this election, his eventual success may depend on his ability to turn out these voters," said Mr. Newhouse. Mr. Newhouse said older voters -- like many others in the survey -- may have a harder time getting comfortable with Sen. Obama, and may be more likely to be concerned about his lack of experience. "Obama's a newer face on the national scene," he said. "They're still taking their time to get to know him. And there are hesitations about his experience level and ability to be commander in chief."

(snip)

The poll found other gaps as well. Among them:
• A yawning racial gap. Sen. Obama is preferred by 89% of African-American voters, to 3% for Sen. McCain. The contest among blacks may be essentially over -- the only question being how large the turnout will be.
• A geographic divide, with voters in urban areas preferring Sen. Obama, and those in rural areas going, albeit more narrowly, for Sen. McCain. Suburban voters, a traditional swing group, narrowly lean toward Sen. Obama.
• A persistent and striking enthusiasm gap between the parties. Just 14% of McCain voters -- versus 44% of Obama voters -- were excited about their candidate. Similarly, 43% of McCain supporters -- and just 22% of Obama's -- called their man the "lesser of two evils."

(snip)

• In looking at vice-presidential candidates, 60% of voters think Sen. McCain needs someone who is an expert on the economy. Half of voters say Sen. Obama needs someone who is an expert on foreign affairs.


URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121686673727179957.html (subscription)

[Beetwasher]

1. The Future Is But Ugly For the GOP

n/t

[Speck Tater]

2. Don't forget that people 65+ grew up in a racially segregated country

and commonly were taught to have a dim view of "those colored people".

Myself, (now aged 62) had the great good fortune to grow up in the poorest neighborhood in my city where only the blacks, Puerto Ricans, and us Irish lived, so I never learned how to be a bigot. We were all in it together, no matter what race, and as kids we all got along just fine, and we all learned to respect one another as people.

I'm not saying that old people are bigots, I'm just saying that a LOT of old people still unconsciously carry childhood habits that are subtly racist.

[HockeyMom]

3. Growing up in a big city makes the difference

no matter what your age. You put millions of people together of all races, religions, ethnicities, and nationalities together and if you don't get along, or even just ignore each other, you will have riots constantly.

I will turn 60 in November and grew up in NYC.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Uh, yah you actually *are* saying they're bigots....

You're just being too much of a wuss to admit that's what you're saying.

And, as an aggregate, it's *true* of that group of white folks. It's the only thing that's keeping McDotard in the race at all.

[woolldog]

4. How is Obama going to increase the youth vote?

We need a huge surge in the youth vote this November to outweigh the older racist vote.

Hope the campaign is working on something....

[question everything]

6. Remember the high hopes that we had with the youth coming out for Kerry?

Let's hope that this time it will be different.

[woolldog]

7. I don't remember many young people being energized by

Kerry though. Were they? He certainly didn't energize me.

[anonymous171]

8. Older voters tend to be less informed than younger ones, especially in the internet age.