How Can Republicans Attract And Keep New Voters?

In 2008 young voters came out in full force to support Barack Obama's run for Presidency. The Democrats had snazzy websites, Facebook pages, twitter and MySpace campaigns and the 80% of 18-29 year olds online responded with votes. There was not much that the Republican's could do to compete with such a charismatic tech-savvy crooner. McCain was old, and he could die, and we would have been left with Sarah Palin to run the country. But now, unemployment has hit the youth the hardest, and young voters are not happy.

According to a Rock the Vote poll twenty-nine percent of young voters are independent, thirty-five percent are Democrat and twenty-six percent consider themselves a Republican. And according to the Census there are 44-million young Americans ages 18-29. Combine this with the new findings from Generation Opportunity's poll suggesting that 61% of these young Americans will vote on a candidates record and not on charisma. And over half of the respondents say they will learn more about the candidates policy positions as compared to 2008. Okay, do the math and you get.... An opportunity for a new President.

Generation Opportunity’s poll commissioned by the polling company inc./WomanTrend (April 16-22, 2011) suggests that young voters are not happy with the following issues:

1. Only 24% of participants felt America was on the right track.
2. 56% believed that the wrong leadership was in Washington.
3. Only 31% approved of Obama's handling of the youth's unemployment.
4.  27% felt that their children will have less opportunity than their parents. 
5. 71% of 18-29 year-olds are deeply concerned with the deficit.
6. 66% believe that their Social Security is safer under their pillow than in the US Treasury. 
7. 69% say Political Leaders do NOT reflect the interests of young Americans. 
8. 77% of 18-29 year-old respondents are delaying major life changes due to economic restraints. 
9. 80% view China as a danger.
10. 62% of respondents say that National Debt is our greatest threat to National Security.

So how can the GOP attract the young voters? Well, for starters take a look at the new polls. Young voters need jobs and feel that the President needs to do more to address this. Unemployment among young Americans is at a stifling 17.3% compared to the National average of  9.3%. Forty-four percent of the respondents in the poll also put off purchasing a home and 23% put off starting a family. What it comes down to is that young Americans want good jobs, affordable healthcare and a reliable economy. If the Republican candidate for President can address these issues and others, they might have a chance at winning the oval office. 


Resources:
Generation Opportunity Poll
Rock the Vote Poll

Posted by FaithHopeAndPolitics 2011