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July 22, 2008
Posted: 04:30 PM ET
FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty: The next generation of Republicans is not optimistic and is fretting over its inability to connect with younger voters. The head of the Young Republicans tells the Washington Post his party is “staring down a very long, dark, quiet night.” He’s probably right. A recent poll shows voters under 30 are more than twice as likely to identify themselves as Democrats. A lot has changed. In 1984, Ronald Reagan won 59 percent of the young vote. In 1992, they were split about evenly between the two parties. But since then, Democrats have gained ground in every election. Usually the parties don’t pay all that much attention to young voters, since they notoriously don’t show up to vote. But this election could be different. Record numbers of young people voted in the primaries. The up-and-coming Republicans also have mixed feelings about John McCain. Some worry he isn’t conservative enough on issues like taxes and immigration reform. The head of the Young Republicans talks about how Obama has inspired a whole generation of voters, while McCain hasn’t done a good job communicating about issues like the war and economy – causing younger Americans to turn away from the Republican Party. The head of the Young Republicans thinks the Arizona Senator can still attract young voters by reaching out to them through social networking web sites and by showing his sense of humor through more appearances on late night talk shows. Here’s my question to you: How can the Republican Party excite young voters? Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Stephanie from Minneapolis writes: Ben writes: Mariel writes: Derek from New Jersey writes: Jackie writes: Dave from Maryland writes: Michelle from Washington writes: Ed writes: Filed under: 2008 Election GOP
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