Sanders Pins His Iowa Hopes on Fickle Voting Bloc

[ProudToBeLiberal]

When the history of Bernie Sanders' presidential bid is written for Iowa, one factor looms large: Did young people caucus for him, and where?

With polls showing Sanders locked in a tight race with Hillary Clinton, the Vermont senator expects he'll win the first-in-the-nation caucuses on Monday if there's a high turnout. If not, "we're going to be struggling,'' he said after a campaign stop Tuesday in Des Moines.

That's why Sanders's campaign has focused so intently on mobilizing students and other young people who overwhelmingly support him in polls over Clinton, the former secretary of state and Democratic front-runner. The Sanders campaign is even arranging to drive students to their home precincts, where their backing of Sanders can be more valuable than at their campuses.

"The youth vote is critical,'' said Tad Devine, a senior advisor for Sanders, the Vermont senator. "Without overwhelming support and strong turnout from young voters, we really don’t have a clear path to victory.''

Only 4 percent of eligible voters under age 30 participated in the 2012 presidential caucuses in Iowa, compared with 13 percent in 2008, when Barack Obama targeted young people and at least 30,000 supported him, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, a research group at Tufts University.

More at http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-01-27/sanders-pins-his-iowa-hopes-on-fickle-voting-bloc

Bernie Sanders is no Barack Obama. He's not going to turn out the youth vote like President Obama did in 2008.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. We'll see...

[ProudToBeLiberal]

4. In 2008, the caucuses in Iowa was held on Jan 3. when students were on break.

This time, the students are back in school. So, it'll be harder for them to vote at their home sites.

[madaboutharry]

6. They can caucus at their college.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

8. Yeah, but you can only win so much delegates at each site.

Bernie support is concentrated at college towns, while Clinton'said is all over the state.

[madaboutharry]

9. Yeah, that is true.

I don't see him pulling it off.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

10. Yep, this is why you see Hillary Clinton doing Town Halls in small towns.

Big rallies in college town is all good, but the rural counties and small towns have a lot of delegates spread across the state. So Bernie might get 10s of thousands of votes around college towns, but Clinton will drive up her margins in Western Iowa and in the small communities across the state. It's all about the delegate math.

[ViseGrip]

11. They said today, Bernie's events are 1-4 times bigger than Barak's

[JonLeibowitz]

2. My my, your crystal ball is quite clear.

Mine always seems a great deal fuzzier.

Or perhaps your crystal ball is a mirage?

[AtomicKitten]

3. Ah but their enthusiasm is an excellent motivator.

[litlbilly]

5. didnt even know there were cauceses in 2012. why would there be exept on the repub side? what are

you even talking about?

[ProudToBeLiberal]

7. There was a caucus in 2012 for Democrats.

You had the option of choosing Obama or picking uncommited. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_Iowa,_2012#Democratic_caucuses

[Mike__M]

26. That choice might have left a bit of an enthusiasm gap

Making the comparison relevant? I dunno.

[ViseGrip]

12. Hillary must have her hopes on all of the male farmers!

[mhatrw]

13. That's sexist! nt

[onehandle]

14. Seven people in my office under 30. None are registered to vote. nt

[AgingAmerican]

15. As if you would know....

Cool story bro!

[onehandle]

18. Came up in a group meeting. My boss asked.

Common story, bro.

[AgingAmerican]

21. Cool story bro!!

[Mike__M]

27. That's seven

caucus votes that aren't going to O'Malley, anyway

[ram2008]

16. The energy behind Bernie is larger than Obama in 08

Also the power of social media is magnitudes larger than in 08. In 2008 Twitter barely existed, no snapchat, no insta, Facebook was still in its youth, Reddit as well. It's a whole different ballgame now.

Bernie is the conclusion to the hopes Obama gave in 08; he will match or increase youth turnout.

[onehandle]

19. Ridiculous reply title of the month. nt

[ram2008]

20. Fundraising seems to show this is the case

Polling and the amount of people at rallies(more than O) gives further evidence. Why does it seem ridiculous to you?

[frylock]

24. It's a defense mechanism.

[whatchamacallit]

17. Hoping certain people won't vote, just like the GOP

[Warren DeMontague]

22. Go to the polls? Not likely. They won't even get off my lawn!

[frylock]

23. FUD heah! Get yer FUD!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

25. Bernie has many young supporters. He also has many old ones.

Me, for example. It should not be assumed that all of his supporters are college students.

[restorefreedom]

28. who hoooo lets hope young people don't vote!

go democracy!!!!!!!

[bunnies]

29. I never knew we had so many psychics on this board.

Maybe we should start a special forum?

[whatchamacallit]

30. Clinton Pins Her Iowa Hopes on Fickle Voting Bloc

"Netflix and chill, kids!"