Gallup has Obama up by 35 points among voters 18 to 29

[ProSense]

What the war over youth vote is really about: Turnout

By Greg Sargent

Gallup finds that Obama is still beating Mitt Romney among young voters at 2008-like levels:

Voters aged 18 to 29 in Gallup’s most recent five-day average, April 20-24, support Obama over Romney by 35 percentage points, 64% to 29%, and — compared with older age groups — have been disproportionately supportive of Obama since Gallup’s tracking began on April 11, albeit by differing margins.

But the problem is that they don’t appear to be inclined to turn out to vote at the levels Obama may need:

The practical value of Obama’s broad support among young voters is lessened by the fact that only six in 10 of these voters say they are registered to vote, and that fewer than six in 10 who are registered say they will definitely vote in November’s election.

Keeping in mind the necessary caveat that you should never read too much into one poll, you can bet that both the Obama and Romney campaigns are eyeing both these trends in similar fashion. Indeed, the ongoing war over young voters is probably more about whether they’ll turn out in large enough numbers for Obama than about any sense that Romney could actually win them over in any meaningful numbers.

Romney’s quick embrace of Obama’s push to extend low interest rates for federally-funded student loans was about papering over a potential difference before it gets out of hand. With Obama embarking on a three-state student-loan tour designed to fire up young voters, Romney’s support for the extension was a hasty effort to dial back a contrast that — thanks to Romney’s statements during the primary — risks becoming a point of major contention that could motivate young voters: Over government’s role in helping alleviate student debt.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/what-the-war-over-youth-vote-is-really-about-turnout/2012/04/26/gIQArsXcjT_blog.html

[JI7]

1. i was thinking that there are a lot of 14-17 year olds in 2008

who would have liked to vote for Obama who will be able to this time. and i think he will keep the young voters he already got.

young voters are always tougher to get a turnout in. but there are plans to get that out.

[KaryninMiami]

2. So now we need to get them to actually come out and vote.

And there lies the challenge. Last time they did come out- in droves. This time I am concerned that there will not be the same momentum- as I assume are they, which explains for the barrage of events at colleges which will certainly, be a main focus.

[Johonny]

3. If only there was a way to write laws to prevent registering them

and made it harder for them to vote when they do go to vote.

[bluestateguy]

4. The Georgetown Cocktail Party media HATES it when their storylines get all muffed up

nt

[emulatorloo]

5. So interesting that 65+ want to vote for The Ryan Plan guy

[ellie]

6. But I just read on Yahoo

that Obama has lost the youth vote! OMG! Did they lie to me?

[Politicalboi]

7. Twitter, Twitter, Twitter

Obama teams need to keep tweeting these kids all the way to the elections.