The Missing Obama Millions

[Soph0571]

We would hardly urge Democratic strategists to abandon Obama-to-Trump voters. However, Obama-to-nonvoters are a relatively liberal segment of the country who have largely been ignored. They are mostly young and nonwhite, and they represent an important part of the Democratic Party’s demographic future. Given the likelihood that many Obama-to-Trump voters will remain in Republican ranks, it is hard to imagine how Democrats can win elections if this group remains on the sidelines.

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So who were the Obama-to-nonvoters? Fifty-one percent were people of color, compared with 16 percent of Obama-to-Trump voters and 34 percent of Obama-to-Clinton voters. Twenty-three percent of Obama-to-nonvoters were under 30, compared with 11 percent of Obama-to-Trump voters and 10 percent of Obama-to-Clinton voters. More than 60 percent of Obama-to-nonvoters make less than $50,000 a year, compared with 45 percent of Obama-to-Clinton voters and 52 percent of Obama-to-Trump voters.

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Democratic strategists should recognize that Obama-to-Trump voters do not represent the future of their party. Obama-to-Trump voters diverge from the Democratic Party on many core issues, and in any case they are not particularly loyal Democrats: Less than one third of Obama-to-Trump voters supported Democrats down-ballot in 2016, and only 37 percent identify as Democrats.
In stark contrast, Obama-to-nonvoters share the progressive policy priorities of Democrats, and they strongly identify with the Democratic Party. Four out of every five Obama-to-nonvoters identify as Democrats, and 83 percent reported they would have voted for a Democrat down-ballot. A similar share of Obama-to-nonvoters said that they would have voted for Mrs. Clinton had they turned out to vote. In short, while reclaiming some Obama-to-Trump voters would be a big help to Democratic prospects, re-energizing 2012 Obama voters who stayed home is a more plausible path for the party going forward.

[link:https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/opinion/sunday/obama-trump-voters-democrats.html|

[Historic NY]

1. They had nothing to vote for......

and now they are learning elections have consequences.

[poboy2]

2. Guess it turns out they actually DID have something to vote for after all.

No shortage of stupid on either side.

[Sherman A1]

3. Precisely

Well Said.

[ismnotwasm]

4. This is why chasing white angst is so bloody ridiculous

People of color are catered too during election season, then seemingly forgotten once they are no longer convienent. And it’s over, that approach. Inclusive Democrats are the future.

[Squinch]

5. +1

[brer cat]

7. *This* nt

[EffieBlack]

6. I think the Obama to Trump voter phenomenon is largely fiction

primarily pushed as a cover to allow Trump voters and the media to avoid the elephant in the room - the depth and breadth of the racism that underlies much of the Trump vote.