How many young and independent voters will skip the election if Obama...?

[kentuck]

...is not on the ticket? Make no mistake, these huge numbers for the Democratic Party in the primaries and caucuses are the result of one man in the race - Barack Obama. If he is not on the ticket, will these people return to their old, apathetic ways? Will they see it as "politics as usual"? Or will they flock to the polls to vote for Hillary, regardless if Obama is on the ticket or not? I don't think we have to be too sharp to figure this out.

[AX10]

1. I am young and I don't give a damn less if Obama...

retired from politics.

[UALRBSofL]

11. It's sad they wouldn't vote just because Obama isn't on the ticket

Truely sad. If they would stay home and allow McCain to be elected then they can only blame themselves.

[kentuck]

13. Yes, sad but probably the reality.

Many of these new voters are inspired and are hoping for a change in the status quo. They believe in Barack Obama. They do not believe in most other politicians, including Hillary, unfortunately. If we want to keep these voters, we need to be aware of the reasons they are coming out in droves. It is not because of Hillary - it is because of Obama. Hillary voters always vote, no matter who the candidate might be.

[chimpymustgo]

18. Hope they're all FIRED UP to fight those 100 years of WAR they'll be "invited" to.

I truly hope they are not THIS stupid.

[cottonseed]

26. I think some of that CHANGE being talked about is a boot for the Clintons.

These new voters I believe are voting Obama and not so much along party lines. He's seen as the best popular hope for some sort of fresh start from the politics they've always known; two family, cynical, devisive, politics. I don't think these newer voters coming out for Obama can be derided if they don't turn around and vote Dem if Obama is taken down.

[blm]

2. I agree. They are energized for what HIS change represents. And people deny that at the risk

of Nov 2008 and the next four years.

[DianeG5385]

12. Don't capitalize his

[blm]

21. HIS as in his SPECIFICALLY - the emphasized HIS change not HER change.

I'm not frightened of the desperate 'cult' rhetoric being tossed around by an increasingly desperate campaign.

I'll TOSS it back into their disingenuous, Bushloving faces.

[kypp]

3. Quite a few, I'm sure...

Apathy is so easy to fall into with our politics of late - that's why the surge of voters Obama is inspiring in the young demographic is so wonderful to see.

[kentuck]

4. That tells me that Obama has to be on the ticket.

If he is not the top spot, then it is absolutely necessary that he be the VP, else we gamble at losing all the ground that we have gained. Just my opinion.

[kypp]

6. I agree, but I wonder if VP would be enough (eom)

[Yael]

5. Apathy will reign supreme

And our down ticket races will be the ones to suffer.

[DJ13]

7. My guess is over 60% of the youth movement supporting Obama doesnt vote for Hillary

If the past is any past indicator, our Party would be making a historic blunder if they nominate Hillary and tell those new voters their voice doesnt count.

Imagine how bad off the GOP would have been had a well known Republican put his ambitions ahead of the Southern Democrats back in 1980 and undermined their support for Ronald Reagan by running and winning in the primaries.

The GOP would have lost 20+ years of influencing our government had they done something that stupid.

Thats what the Democratic Party is facing here.

Loss of the potential long term influence of governmental policies by alienating a new block of voters that would likely remain loyal Democrats for the next 20 years.

[kentuck]

8. Bingo !

You've put your finger on it.

[BlackVelvet04]

16. If the past is any indicator they won't vote for Obama either n/t

[Yael]

27. Because in the past, young voters turned out in record numbers for primaries

and sat out the General?

Can you show me which election that was?

[RoadRage]

33. Right.. 21 year olds are getting up at

8am to go sit for 3 hours and wait in line at a Caucus to get him on the ticket, but they won't show up for 2 minutes to cast a ballot in November that will take 3 minutes to do.

Where do you get your logic?

[JVS]

9. It depends on how he is prevented from being on the ticket. If it's super delegates overriding...

regular delegates, there will be serious fallout.

[kentuck]

10. I agree that would be the worst scenario...

But, these new folks that have joined the movement will not linger around, in my opinion, if Obama is not on the ticket. Period.

[AtomicKitten]

14. And that was PRECISELY what he was talking about

when he said he doesn't know if his support would transfer to Clinton in the event that she secures the nomination.

[TexasObserver]

15. Vote for Nurse Ratchett? They won't do it.

[Golden Raisin]

25. You're making a big assumption

that the young'uns even know who Nurse Ratched is!

[TexasObserver]

well, if I may confess, they weren't the ones I was counting on knowing it

I know who will read it and know what it means.

I think it's a sound analogy, too. They even have similar looks and mannerisms.

[NashVegas]

17. It's Sad That People Have So Little Faith About the Loyalty and Motivation of Obama Supporters

And yet appear to be willing to have the nomination held hostage in order to keep them in the fold.

[kentuck]

19. Explain Crisco?

How do you define the loyalty of "Obama supporters"?

[NashVegas]

23. I Don't Spend Too Much Time Defining It or Thinking About It

The loyalty, that is of the "these" supporters you refer to.

I think it's more than possible to place too much emphasis and waste too much time angsting over a demographic that one perceives to be so fickle about the Democratic process that they will take their marbles and go home if their candidate isn't in the final election.

[kentuck]

24. I do think this is an important election.

You say they are fickle? Maybe? But many feel if they don't have something to vote for, why vote at all?

[NashVegas]

29. If That's Truly What It Comes Down To, I'm All for a Brokered Convention

Smoke-filled rooms and all.

[Thrill]

20. We're talking about young people. If its Hillary vs. McCain

It will seem like just another election to them.

[TexasObserver]

22. grandma v. grandpa is not an election they can get behind

[sendero]

28. I don't think too many.

... these voters are essentially anti-Bush and anti-Republican.

[Popol Vuh]

30. I am 41 yrs old

And I will never place a vote for Hillary and it has nothing to do with Obama being on the ballot or not. It has everything to do with Hillary because I absolutely refuse to vote for anyone who voted for the Iraq invasion and/or who sat on the board of WalMart which I view as bad as crossing numerous picket lines because WalMart has had such a detrimental effect on labor and local businesses.

Its a matter of principle. I will not be associated with the above as much as I can help it.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

36. can I ask who you voted for in 04?

[RoadRage]

31. Many will skip..

Most of the Obama supporters are not politically involved, and most don't even have a declared party. They like OBAMA. They see McCain & Clinton as virtually the same - old, has been, same-old politics as usual.

They are voting for Obama in this campaign... not the democrat on the ticket.

[nonconformist]

32. Well, if he really is the uniter and as inspirational as everyone says he is...

He SHOULD be able to inspire his supporters to vote for whoever gets the Democratic nomination. That is, if it's really about a Democrat getting in the White House, and not just about Obama.

But since he's already said that his voters won't vote for her, but hers will for him, I wonder.

[RoadRage]

38. Our generation is notoriously bad at doing what "We're told to do"...

We do what we WANT to do - and right now, that is to vote for Obama. He can say he wants us to vote for Hillary.. we don't care. We don't want Hillary - we want our generation to pick this president.. not the generation of our parents.

[nonconformist]

41. Well, that tells me all I need to know then.

It's about Obama, not the issues, not the party, and not the country. Got it.

So it was just your parent's generation that put Bill Clinton in the White House? Because I'm 34, and my first presidential vote was for Clinton in 1992, and my children aren't anywhere near voting age.

[RoadRage]

42. I'm 4 years behind you.. so I didn't vote for Clinton, I was 18 in 1996 - didn't vote

So Yes, my parents generation put him in the white house. I'm not saying I wouldn't have voted for him, to be honest at age 17 (and even 18, 19 & 20) I didn't care much about politics. I didn't pay much attention.

As for Obama, we're voting for HIM BECAUSE of the issues. Because I feel he's the only one who's actually saying what he means, not saying what he thinks he needs to say to get elected. I am voting for Obama because of the issues like Iraq and Health Care Reform.. i like his plan because his personality and platform talks about bi-partisian work, and that will be required to put he or Hillary's plans forward. Hillary makes serious democrats happy, because she doesn't talk much about working with republicans, but that will be very neseccary (IMO).

Just a difference of opinion.. i like Obama, but not because of the kool aid

[Jed Dilligan]

34. If he loses the nom he will have to make the case to them

that his road to the Presidency still includes their voting for her.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

35. my 18 yr old son voted for Clinton

[dana_b]

37. Hope not...

I thinks it's almost a sin if people don't vote. I am an independent and if he's not on the ticket, I will vote. Same with my independent daughter.

[LordJFT]

39. he will be on the ticket one way or another

[pathansen]

40. By the same reasoning, how many of the Hillary supporters will skip out?

And the Obama supporters will also have to become the new volunteers.