Young supporters chant 'Obama, Obama' as Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama takes the stage at rally at the XL Center during the last full day of campaigning before Super Tuesday. Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say.(PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Young people are fired up about the 2008 election.
This week we saw more than 3 million voters under the age of 30 flooding the polls on Super Tuesday, turning out in record numbers in more than 20 states. Exit polls showed that in almost every state, youth voter turnout increased significantly from 2000 and 2004.
Some of these statistics are amazing: In Tennessee the number of people between the ages of 18-to-29 who voted more than quadrupled. In Georgia, young voters tripled their turnout this year. And in California, more than 850,000 voters under 30 cast ballots.
This stuff is very encouraging. The turnout of young people actually represented the winning margin of victory in some states. For example, Barack Obama won Missouri by just 10,000 votes. That's a state where 75,000 young people voted for him. The fact is Obama probably owes thanks to young people for a lot of his Super Tuesday victories. In fact, Obama won the youth vote in 19 of the 22 states that voted on Tuesday.
The head of “Rock the Vote” is optimistic. She says: "Young people are tired of being characterized as apathetic and uninterested in politics. They are casting ballots like never before, volunteering on campaigns, organizing at their schools, and have shown, since the first contest in January, they will pick the next President of the United States."
None of this is lost on the campaigns. Candidates are targeting young voters through the internet and any other way they can reach them.
Here’s my question to you: Why are young people so interested in the 2008 election?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Rebecca from Columbus, Ohio writes:
As a young person (20 years old), I am interested in this election because the government has gone down the toilet in the past 8 years and I wasn't able to vote yet in 2004 to try to turn things around. Young people like me are also extremely inspired by Barack Obama, who gives us hope that we can change things in this country. My life has been governed entirely by the Bush and Clinton families, and I'm working to see something new.
K. writes:
100 years in Iraq = DRAFT.
Brandon from Laurel, Mississippi writes:
This will be the first presidential election I will be able to vote in. I am very excited to be able to cast my ballot for Ron Paul. He has cured my apathy about politics and is an example of how we can change for the better. I will vote for him in November if I have to write-in his name!
Sandy writes:
For the same reason I was interested in the election of John F. Kennedy. These kids see a light at the end of the tunnel when they see Barak Obama, and well they should see that light. He is a bright light in this dark world and I hope the people of this country see that light before it's too late. I just hope the "Washington elite" don't screw him over.
C. from Houston, Texas writes:
Young people don't focus on what has been, they focus on the here and now. They use the internet very effectively exchanging information and they love commercials. I believe they have always had an interest in elections but were shut out.
Sean writes:
You want to know why young people are getting involved? It is because we are sick and tired of these political leaders living with a 20th century mentality in a 21st century world.