A recent CNN poll has found that Mitt Romney’s favorable ratings have been increasing since the end of the tumultuous GOP primary run. While Romney is gaining steam throughout several important voting groups essential to clenching the 2012 presidential election, he still trails president Obama amongst young voters. When voters under the age of 30 were polled around two-thirds of them view Obama favorably. Romney also has a lower favorable rating amongst his own party that Obama, but what implications does this have if any for the upcoming 2012 general election?
Young voters are often times more likely to vote democratic, as young voters tend to be more diverse in their backgrounds and are more socially open and less conservative. This was definitely seen in the 2008 election, that had youth voter turnouts go through the roof, due to the enthusiasm generated by the Obama campaign. Not only did the youth vote go to the polls in record amounts, they also participated as essential campaign volunteers. Young voter enthusiasm could have had an effect because of their influence over their family and friends and as youth voters tend to be more racially diverse could have had an influential pull on the ”minority” vote. However, the latest political polls are showing that individuals especially young voters lack the optimism they held in 2008 and this may lead to a lower youth voter turnout in 2012. While many doubt that the youth vote will be as large as in 2012 ignoring the influence the young can have on the election would be a mistake especially in the 2012 swing states.
