Winning Obama's Youth Vote
President Obama’s recent message directed toward young and independent voters represents a great opportunity for Republicans. The question is whether they will seize it or confine themselves to rallying the once strong but now diminishing “base” of the party.
According to a new Gallup poll, 23% of young voters (18-29) are “very” enthusiastic about voting in the upcoming congressional elections compared with 28% who are “somewhat” enthusiastic and 47% who are not. Young people represented a core constituency for Barack Obama during the presidential election and these new numbers present the Republican Party with an opportunity to modernize their message and embrace these new voters.
Although 51% of this group says they would vote for the Democratic Party in the congressional elections, their lack of enthusiasm demonstrates a diminishing faith in the Obama effect. Many young voters have no doubt come to the realization that Hope and Change does not translate effectively into practical politics. Obama’s first year in office has revealed the futility of hopeful changes in “the way Washington does business.”
Instead of playing to the vanity of the wealthy and the fear of the middle class as some at the RNC have suggested, the Republican Party should move to rally this rising yet disaffected generation by appealing to what is important to them. They should push for market-based approaches to climate change (alternative energy tax credits and carbon taxes as advocated by some at AEI) and pursue a more inclusive approach on social issues (as reflected here).
Most importantly, in the past year as engagement with Iran (as well as past sanctions) has proved to be ineffective in halting its nuclear ambitions, Republicans should reassert their credentials in matters of national security and foreign policy. Young people (as well as most Americans) will be more receptive to aggressive internationalism now that Obama has extended his hand with little success.
Such an approach does not constitute a violation of principle but rather seeks to reconcile principle with modernity. The Republican Party will still be the party of free markets and strong national defense but they will also be a modern party that demonstrates a serious intent to govern. With the fall in Obama’s approval rating and these sour numbers from young voters Republicans have the opportunity to capture these votes in November and set the stage for a conservative revival in 2012.