The Kids Love Sanders Even More Than They Loved Obama

[n2doc]

Anyone watching the huge crowds of rapturous young people at Bernie Sanders rallies this year might be forgiven for experiencing a flash of déjà vu. Those crowds look a lot like those drawn by Barack Obama in 2008. But the comparison may actually understate the intensity of the Kiddie Bern in 2016. As Jeff Stein reports at Vox, our best evidence is that Sanders is outdoing Obama's '08 record among young voters by both percentage and total votes:

A new analysis from Tufts University shows that Sanders has now surpassed Barack Obama's 2008 Democratic primary totals among young people in the 25 states where we can draw a comparison — whether you count by raw vote total or percentage of the overall vote share.

According to the Tufts analysis, in 2008 Obama defeated Clinton among under-30 voters by a 60-35 margin. So far Sanders is beating Clinton by a 71-28 margin. Obama racked up 2.2 million youth votes in the 25 states included in the study. Sanders has won an estimated 2.4 million in those states, with California, New Jersey, and a scattering of smaller states still to vote. Based on recent polling in California (the Field Poll has Sanders leading Clinton 75-10 among under-30s), it doesn't look like Sanders's domination in this demographic is going to change before the final bell.

What separates the two Clinton opponents most conspicuously is that Obama won the nomination while Sanders is almost certainly going to lose. So in 2008 the youth enthusiasm of the primaries smoothly rolled over into a relatively high turnout of under-30 voters in the general election, with very big margins, making the Kidz an important component of what came to be know as the Obama Coalition. It's another question altogether whether they'll turn out for Hillary Clinton. As a two-time big-time primary loser among under-30 voters, Clinton has her work cut out for her in matching the appeal of the cool 'n' hip Obama and the eccentric old socialist Sanders. She might want to think about making her college tuition and/or debt initiative a little more generous, and coming out clearly for marijuana legalization.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/06/kids-love-sanders-even-more-than-obama.html

If Sanders had gotten the AA support that Obama did, we wouldn't even be talking about HRC anymore. She would have conceded in April. And the 'kids' aren't going to be fooled by some last minute pandering.

[onecaliberal]

1. Obama talked a good game, Sanders has a 4 decades long record of fighting

To back up his rhetoric.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Exactly. All one has to do is go to YouTube and watch Bernie's House and Senate floor speeches.

His stump speech is a complete compilation of everything he's been say for 40 years...which is easily authenticated by those videos.

He's the most ethical, honest, authentic and MORAL politician in D.C..

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[SamKnause]

2. I saw several young ladies with tears streaming down

their faces at a Bernie rally.

They truly love him.

I heard a pundit comment about how well he is loved.

The pundit, not me, said his rallies were like a Beatles' concert.

[n2doc]

3. And it is not just the young who love him

It is a damn same that many folks refuse to try and understand why he has gained such affection.

[SamKnause]

4. I know.

I will be 63 on the 26th.

I adore Bernie.

I have cried several times watching his debates.

I have cried several times watching his outstanding campaign commercials.

After hundreds of hours of research;

He has earned my respect.

He has earned my admiration.

[thereismore]

5. 50 yo here. He's earned my admiration.

[SamKnause]

7. Is that you ???

[thereismore]

9. Oh no, that's from a story by that guy. Read the story here:

http://www.funnyjunk.com/Just+bernie+sanders/funny-pictures/5782183/

Bernie inspires me.

[SamKnause]

10. I remember seeing that.

Thanks for refreshing my memory.

I try to keep up on all things Bernie.

I lost count of how many rallies I have watched.

I watch all his interviews.

I watch old clips from his time as the mayor of Burlington.

I watched his Eugene Debs documentary.

I watched him recording an album.

He has been in 2 movies.

In one his was passing out Halloween candy.

He is really good with children.

He is just an all around wonderful person.

I like Jane a lot too.

[thereismore]

11. Haha, I have done all those things! Except,

1) I still have not seen his Debs documentary
and
2) I have seen him in one movie only, where he was the excentric rabbi.

[SamKnause]

12. I think the reason Bernie supporters are well informed

is because it is fun doing research on him.

He has an awesome sense of humor.

[Duval]

13. I am 77, and he has earned my VOTE!

And, yes, I admire and respect Sanders.

[SamKnause]

14. ...

[Doctor_J]

6. Alas, the party doesn't want them. The dnc needs money from rich right wingers more than

it needs millions of young voters. That's been their mantra for 25 years, and why party memberships are at an all time low.