Obama's 'Youth Mojo' Sparks Student Activism, Fueling Campaign

[DeepModem Mom]

Bloomberg News: Obama's 'Youth Mojo' Sparks Student Activism, Fueling Campaign
By Heidi Przybyla

May 7 (Bloomberg) -- When John Kerry sought the Democratic nomination in the last presidential election, his biggest Iowa crowd before the state caucuses was about 1,500 people. At a University of Iowa rally last month, Barack Obama drew 10,000 -- many of them students.

The Illinois senator's candidacy has helped spark a surge in campus activism that he has moved quickly to harness, establishing 300 college chapters and working with students to organize many of his largest rallies.

The ferment may be unparalleled since 1968, when young voters rallied behind Senator Eugene McCarthy and his anti- Vietnam War platform, said David Rosenfeld, campus program director for the Student Public Interest Research Group, which encourages campus activism.

"It's a generation that was already civically minded,'' Rosenfeld said, citing a series of close elections that have piqued student interest, debate over Iraq and the growth of online technology. "Obama, who is charismatic and has some kind of youth mojo thing going on, steps up, and the thing takes off.''

Obama's strategy is visible on the Internet, where at least 325,000 young people have signed on to his biggest support network on Facebook.com. That far outpaces support for his main rival for the Democratic nomination, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York: Her most-active page on the social-networking Web site has just more than 19,000 members.

"We are actively working with students to organize,'' David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist, said in an interview. The campaign has prepared kits for students that explain how to hold press conferences and recruit leaders.

According to a survey by Harvard University's Institute of Politics released April 17, Obama, 45, leads Clinton by 17 percentage points among students, an edge that evaporates among young people who aren't in college. A Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times poll conducted in early April found Clinton, 59, has a 10- point margin over Obama among all Democrats.

Three days before the event at the University of Iowa in Iowa City on April 22, Obama held a conference call with the heads of campus chapters. "I'm going to be counting on you to be the backbone of this campaign,'' he told the students. They are. While former Vermont Governor Howard Dean drew considerable support from campuses to build crowds and recruit volunteers in 2004, the audiences Obama is drawing "break all records,'' said Stephanie Cutter, former communications director for Kerry....

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=aJ4wSyFVOGx8

[Colobo]

1. Gobama!!!

[bamacrat]

2. Im a Kucinich supporter, but I am behind Obama since he has a chance.

Good to see a candidate actually sees us young kids for what we are: the future. he's smart and this support may get us our first black president, awesome.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Thanks for this post, bamacrat! I'm a Mom to one of you kids...

and one of the reasons I support Obama is I think it's time for a new face, and a new generation. While Obama is not of your generation, he's not a Boomer, and he seems somehow more attuned to younger people than the other candidates.

[Greyhound]

3. Let's just hope that we finally see a youth vote that exceeds the traditional

voter turnout of less than 20%. They younger voters have the power to transform this country, they just can't seem to be bothered to actually do it.

[Posteritatis]

4. 20%? Ow. I thought Canada was bad with 25%. :P (nt)

[Greyhound]

6. Typically 17% - 18%. Disgraceful, but in their defense, they are so badly

educated anymore, most don't see the relevance of politics in their lives anymore, it's not "cool" and that is the most important thing in the universe.

I saw one of Leno's person in the street interviews where he asked a young woman (20 something) who Betsy Ross was and what she did, and she had never heard of her, and here's the kicker, she was a school teacher!

[Posteritatis]

7. Most of the ones I know see the relevance

They've just convinced themselves that nothing they do matters, it's all fucked so why bother lift a finger, etc. Of course, that actually causes them to be right, which simply convinces them that they were in the first place.

"Nothing ever works out the way young people wants, so clearly our opinions don't matter, so there's no point in expressing them!"

Mister Cause, do you take Miss Effect to be your lawfully-wedded wife...

Sometimes I can get 'em to admit that it's not a coolness thing or whatnot, but that they just don't want to "waste" the ten minutes it takes to go check a box. Of course, I suppose I shouldn't want people that indifferent to vote, but it still pisses me off.

[Greyhound]

8. I think it's great that they at least understand that it does effect them,

even here in "radical Portland" most are appallingly ignorant and apathetic. OTOH, the most vocal advocates of change are usually young, there are just too few of them and they can't seem to motivate their peers.

I wish I knew what to do to make them see, especially since they will bear the majority of consequences for their inaction, but I've had no success.

[liberalKD126]

9. the respect we deserve

Obama really seems like a great step in the right direction for this country. By looking to the youth of America and acknowledging us as a worthwhile voting crowd, he is playing it smart. You draw us in and win over our vote, we will win you that election!

[CK_John]

10. I hope he gets the youth registered! A rally is a fun thing but to vote you

have to register and accept a degree of adulthood. A big big leap for todays youth.

[calteacherguy]

11. Leads by 17 points among college students...that's interesting and exciting.

Young people are the fuel for the Democratic Party. There is something about youth and progressive politics that goes hand in hand. It's great to see so many energized. There is a great potential to turn a page on history and heal the nation. I think many young people sense that.