Just Asking: Who's Got Your Youth Vote?

Being 25, I can relate to both sides of that.

Granted with age, most people learn to see a bigger picture, both sides of the story, etc. but any sound person who doesn't consider the full scope of what it means to be President as well as what each candidate stands for isn't doing their self justice if they intend to cast a vote one way or the other.

This may be a fair way to distinguish the two candidates and the demographics they appeal to, but, does it matter? If and when things get nasty, I'd hope that any person in office will be able to show that they are indeed a true, emotional human and lead with such conviction that they connect on the most basic levels with the people they are leading, the people who voted for them.

Sent by John Ratcliffe-Lee | 11:50 AM | 1-7-2008

I'm in the middle. I'm 38, which means I first voted in 1988, which means that every presidential election I ever voted in was won by someone named Bush or someone named Clinton. I'm tired of that, and I'm also tired of being deeply embarrassed by my presidents. Barack Obama strikes me as a genuinely decent, honorable man, and no matter how effective he turns out to be as president, what I'm hungry for right now is a sense of decency and honor.

Sent by Stewart | 1:03 PM | 1-7-2008

I'm 26 and still on the fence on these 2. However, if news breaks out that Obama is s "womanizer" (sp?), then he's got my vote. ;P
Besides, some of our best presidents were...Thomas Jefferson, John Kennedy, and *cough*Bill Clinton*cough*

Sent by J. Okerman | 1:35 PM | 1-7-2008

At 24 and and Edwards supporter I find that my peers (except for other uber-wonks) are almost totally behind Obama. My choice was made from an intense, determined effort to "stick to the issues." Senator Edwards's positions were what won me over.
However on Thursday I watching MSNBC at a pub with twenty somethings who were mostly Edwards supporters and from the beginning we were excited, thrilled even, that Obama was winning. When he got up with Michelle to speak at his rally we were transfixed with him, elated that "this man could be our next president." For many democrats who were not old enough to remember a campaign where they felt uplifted by a candidate that feeling propels them making it very hard not to support him --- and impossible not to like him.

Sent by Petro | 2:46 PM | 1-7-2008

i'm a 59 year old progressive and have no such knee-jerk animosity towards hillary...i would be pleased to have any combination of the existing democrats running on that ticket...however, an article in the times recently looked at women in power throughout the world and noted that many either piggy-backed on their family name or deceased husband...dah, the relationship to getting ahead and status is not new...but what might be more interesting is that so many americans are still unwilling to trust a woman president...i'd be delighted to have a man such as obama as president and it will be a difficult choice...and as the times also said recently; a president cannot be all things but they have to be smart enough to pick the best people and then smart enough to be able to listen to them and understand and synthesize what they're saying.

Sent by jan | 3:46 PM | 1-7-2008

Barack Obama is who America needs to face the uncertain days ahead. Someone with strong moral values and principles. Someone who can restore the dignity and respect of the USA on the global stage. Someone who understands how to bring consensus among parties and transcends the common walls that socialization has created. Let us face up to it. America needs Obama in the face of a rising Middle East and Far East. He has all the right experience in my book! I feel more secure already and he is not even president yet. He has given me more than hope. He is a vision of a better future that within grasp and it feels mighty good!!!

Sent by Leo Douglas | 4:10 PM | 1-7-2008

The inital question misses the point. What separates Obama from all the other candidates, is that he is winning support from everyone, not just a certain demographic group. No candidate, no president has all the knowlege that the office requires. Obama is well-qualified in his own right, but more important, we trust him to choose good advisors and listen to them. No one else is more likely to resort dignity and credibility to the presidency. I trust Obama to listen to the people, to listen to his advisors and even to listen to his opponents. Already, he has delivered on his promise to bring us together.

Sent by Barbara Frisbie | 2:15 PM | 1-8-2008