Barack Obama dominates in poll of college students

If the students who heard Barack Obama's commencement speech this last weekend at Connecticut's Wesleyan University were typical of their cohorts nationwide, his listeners were an overwhelmingly friendly audience.

A recent poll of college students conducted for the Panetta Institute for Public Policy found, not surprisingly, that support for Obama far outstrips that for Hillary Clinton or John McCain.

Among those identifying themselves as Democratic primary voters, Obama was backed by 66%, Clinton 20%. And among all students surveyed -- 1,004 -- Obama led McCain, 59% to 27%, while Clinton had a much narrower advantage, 46% to 39%.

"I don't think we've seen a generational difference like this since the Vietnam era," said the institute's director, Leon Panetta, a former California congressman and onetime White House chief of staff for President Clinton. "Clearly, students are excited by the Obama candidacy. The question now is how many of these young people will remain motivated to get out and vote."

Most told the pollsters they would -- of the 79% who said they were registered to vote, 81% said they definitely would be casting a ballot. By comparison, in spring 2004 a comparable survey found 73% of students saying they were registered intended to vote in that year's general election.

Here's a really eye-popping difference between then and now, though. Four years ago, 22% of college students said they were paying a lot of attention to the evolving campaign between President Bush and Democrat John F. Kerry. The figure for this year: 82%.

The entire poll, which also gauged student attitudes about the U.S. economy (bleak) and Bush (none too good) can be perused here.

-- Don Frederick

 

Comments

[Wm Tate]

Flash! This just in! Young people who've just spent 4-5 years regurgitating the liberal views of their elitist professors say they'll vote for the most liberal Democrat!
In other news, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead....
-Wm Tate,
http://www.atimelikethis.us/

[PAUL HERNANDEZ JR SFC US ARMY]

Of course he leads the college educated vote these are open minded people with an education. They can read and don't fall for the same old same old divisive lies spread by the likes of Karl Rove and Rush Limbaugh. they also know we should support the Jim Webb GI Bill. It is immoral for George W. and John McCain to not support doing the right thing by the troops they put into harms way for no valid reason whatsoever. go visit the local veterans hospital and see the price for yourselves then vote for Barack Obama the Senator who is doing the most for our veterans.

[COL. [retd] A. M.Khajawall MD]

Dear Fellow Americans,

Our Greatgrand Nation, the United States of America,
is facing and will face very critical, substantial
"Challenges" in the coming months, years, and decades.

It is imperative that we the people of the America
become interested, involved, and engaged in choosing
and voting for our next President.

The following criteria will guide and help us to a
right candidate. The candidate we choose must have
following characteristics:

1. A clear, candid " Vision and Mission" for our
Nations present and future.

2. A " Strong Character and significant
Integrity".

3. A sound and sustained "Presidential Temperament"
and " Judgment".

4. Less "Washington exposure" and "real
connectivity with the people and future
generation".

5. One who "Inspires us up" rather than
"Tears us Down or divides us".

6. One who is not based on sexism,
racism,regionalism,ageism, or any other ism and as
well as one who attempts to " bring us together ".

7. A foreign policy of mainly "USA Centric".

In my professional, political and personal opinion,
the only candidate that meets all the above
characteristics and has shown consistent
coolness, calmness, and connectedness { PRESIDENTIAL
TEMPERAMENT } is Senator Barack Obama.

As an independent registered voter since 1980, I voted
for Carter, voted for Reagan, voted for First Bush,
and second Bush in 2000 and in the process lost
interest in Washington politics to the point where i
stopped voting. Getting disinterested and disgusted in
our political process and stopping voting was a very
very bad decision in any circumstance, particularly
under present circumstances.

This time we can not afford to stay on the sidelines
and let "Washington" stay the same. We can not afford
to allow our Greatgrand Nation to become less than
what we are, what we were and what we can be.

We need to send a clear, careful and candid message to
the world and sometimes 24-hour partisan divisive
media, that We the American people will set the agenda
for our future. America and Americans will be back.

These partisan media outlets are trying and will try
their best to deprive, decieve,dupe, and derail us.
Let us stay involved, engaged, and express our opinion
freely and vote. Our Nation will get it right this
time
to protect, preserve, and promote our future.

Some of these partisan media and pundits are trying
their best to deny us a better future and continue
focusing on our weaknesses to generate a bitter future
for us and our Greatgrand Nation. Our nation's people
will see thru. Unfortunately our Greatgrand Nation's
people are persistently and constantly subjected to
this "Psychological Terrorism" without common people’s
knowledge.

The common and regular people do not have time to see
thru and sort thru this psychological terrorism
perpetuated by some of these partisan media outlets.

I find it tragic, unfortunate, and sad [ They probably
do not care about our Greatgrand Nation ]as they claim
that they do it in the interest OF our Greatgrand
Nation.

We the Americans should not and will not to allow
some of these partisan media outlets to
psychologically
terrorize, traumatize and silence us this time nor
any other time in future.

I am sure that we will get it right this
time and elect Senator Obama as our next President.

Let us remember that our Greatgrand nation consists of
family, friends,fellowships, faith, funds,foundation,
fun, and future with fairness and freedom and without
fear, favor, or failure .

We can not afford to lose any of the above. Let us
stand up, be counted, save and rebuild our Greatgrand
Nation for centuries to come. I am sure our Greatgrand
nation andits diverse people. will reclaim, regain and
restore the global economic, social, moral, and power
status of USA.

God Bless our Great grand Nation and its diverse
people.

Our Greatgrand nation needs present and future
stability, security, safety,sustained progress and
restoration of our due status in this perilous Global
World at all levels.

Yours sincerely,

COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall M.D.
Forensic Psychiatrist.
Disabled American Veteran.
Las Vegas Nevada.

[COL. [retd] A. M.Khajawall MD]

Dear Fellow Americans,

Our Greatgrand Nation, the United States of America,
is facing and will face very critical, substantial
"Challenges" in the coming months, years, and decades.

It is imperative that we the people of the America
become interested, involved, and engaged in choosing
and voting for our next President.

The following criteria will guide and help us to a
right candidate. The candidate we choose must have
following characteristics:

1. A clear, candid " Vision and Mission" for our
Nations present and future.

2. A " Strong Character and significant
Integrity".

3. A sound and sustained "Presidential Temperament"
and " Judgment".

4. Less "Washington exposure" and "real
connectivity with the people and future
generation".

5. One who "Inspires us up" rather than
"Tears us Down or divides us".

6. One who is not based on sexism,
racism,regionalism,ageism, or any other ism and as
well as one who attempts to " bring us together ".

7. A foreign policy of mainly "USA Centric".

In my professional, political and personal opinion,
the only candidate that meets all the above
characteristics and has shown consistent
coolness, calmness, and connectedness { PRESIDENTIAL
TEMPERAMENT } is Senator Barack Obama.

As an independent registered voter since 1980, I voted
for Carter, voted for Reagan, voted for First Bush,
and second Bush in 2000 and in the process lost
interest in Washington politics to the point where i
stopped voting. Getting disinterested and disgusted in
our political process and stopping voting was a very
very bad decision in any circumstance, particularly
under present circumstances.

This time we can not afford to stay on the sidelines
and let "Washington" stay the same. We can not afford
to allow our Greatgrand Nation to become less than
what we are, what we were and what we can be.

We need to send a clear, careful and candid message to
the world and sometimes 24-hour partisan divisive
media, that We the American people will set the agenda
for our future. America and Americans will be back.

These partisan media outlets are trying and will try
their best to deprive, decieve,dupe, and derail us.
Let us stay involved, engaged, and express our opinion
freely and vote. Our Nation will get it right this
time
to protect, preserve, and promote our future.

Some of these partisan media and pundits are trying
their best to deny us a better future and continue
focusing on our weaknesses to generate a bitter future
for us and our Greatgrand Nation. Our nation's people
will see thru. Unfortunately our Greatgrand Nation's
people are persistently and constantly subjected to
this "Psychological Terrorism" without common people’s
knowledge.

The common and regular people do not have time to see
thru and sort thru this psychological terrorism
perpetuated by some of these partisan media outlets.

I find it tragic, unfortunate, and sad [ They probably
do not care about our Greatgrand Nation ]as they claim
that they do it in the interest OF our Greatgrand
Nation.

We the Americans should not and will not to allow
some of these partisan media outlets to
psychologically
terrorize, traumatize and silence us this time nor
any other time in future.

I am sure that we will get it right this
time and elect Senator Obama as our next President.

Let us remember that our Greatgrand nation consists of
family, friends,fellowships, faith, funds,foundation,
fun, and future with fairness and freedom and without
fear, favor, or failure .

We can not afford to lose any of the above. Let us
stand up, be counted, save and rebuild our Greatgrand
Nation for centuries to come. I am sure our Greatgrand
nation andits diverse people. will reclaim, regain and
restore the global economic, social, moral, and power
status of USA.

God Bless our Great grand Nation and its diverse
people.

Our Greatgrand nation needs present and future
stability, security, safety,sustained progress and
restoration of our due status in this perilous Global
World at all levels.

Yours sincerely,

COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall M.D.
Forensic Psychiatrist.
Disabled American Veteran.
Las Vegas Nevada.

[Johanan]

As a college student, these statistics frighten me. Obama is liked because he is one of them- he is too young and too inexperienced to lead the free world. He has never run anything- he's only been in the Senate. We need an experienced Governor or someone who has served longer and more effectively than Obama.

If Obama is President, though well-meaning, he will be lulled by our enemies which will give them time to plan our complete destruction. The rising generation (represented by current college students) ought to watch Ben Stein's new movie, "Expelled" before they buy into the philosophies of their professors to quickly. Furthermore, they should take some time to study the events that led up to WWII. As soon as we forget the sacrifice made by the hundreds of thousands of college-aged soldiers who died in WWII two, then we'll have to make the same sacrifice they made or prepare to become subordinate to some other power and to give up the freedoms we enjoy.

Obama is a good man with a great future. But, his time for the Presidency is not yet. If I could choose a ticket, it'd probably be McCain for President and Obama for VP and I'd put Romney in as Secretary of Defense and I'd tell Hillary to run for Governorship of New York...

For those who have ears to hear, these truths will ring loud...

[DenisR]

The kids know where the future change is! It is their future. Obama brings hope not lies.

[kat]

College kids tend to get caught up in fads easily. Obama supporters seem to be more like cult members blindly following a charleton than voters. Obama supporters also tend to be very vicous. They accuse Clinton supporters of either being stupid or racist. This has been very effective against another democrat but it will be interesting to see how the guns and god crowd reacts to having Obama and his "message" shoved down their throats along with accusations of racism and stupidity. The reactionary vote alone might be enough to elect McCain.

[BJ]

This is all well and good, BUT...

Will this translate into actual votes in November?
Will more revelations from his past hijack Obama's bid?
Will his inexperience cause him to stumble badly?

[Alex]

It isn't that complicated. I'm in my late 20's and have voted in every election I could. Obama is the first candidate I can actually relate to and who seems to share a similar worldview. Why is it surprising that I would gravitate toward him?

Unlike every other presidential candidate in the past few decades:

1. He is not weighed down by baggage from the civil rights era. As a young person, I feel like I'm watching my future get trashed by crusty old people who resent events from the 60's and need to lash out at phantoms in the present day.
2. He also does not view the entire world through the lens of a Cold War mentality...a mentality I consider politically obsolete, I might add. Tip to conservatives - don't raise the threat of communism when talking about Obama. It really doesn't go anywhere!
3. He addresses issues that affect me in a credible way. Specifically, he does not mainly focus on social security and prescription drug costs, which were the biggest domestic issues in the past several elections.

He's also appealing to all age groups because he is simply different from other candidates in other key ways.
1. He actually answers the questions that reporters and citizens direct at him. Look at other politicians sometime, and watch how often they turn an important question into an opportunity for them to recite talking points on another topic.
2. He explains his ideas in a fairly complex but well-spoken way, rather than talking down to people. I'm tired of hearing about "bad guys" or "evil" as if our foreign policy discussion must be in comic book form.
3. His motivations actually seem fairly sincere, rather than a power-grabbing bid for a position to help enrich his friends. Note his past decision to be a low-paid community organizer, when he could have taken any $100K+ job after graduating from Harvard Law. As a law school graduate, I appreciate the pressure he must have overcome, that would have been pushing him toward a more elite job. I realize he's a politician, but the whole arc of his life tends to imply that he's running for President to get useful things done. I get the opposite vibe from Clinton and McCain...

[nic]

Actually Kat, it's Clinton supporters who blame everyone and their mother of being misogynists. And if we were so caught up in trends, we would have bought into the institutional, branded candidate like you did. You're the one slinging mud on this board, so how dare you accuse others of being "vicious."

As for the guns and god crowd...fortunately, their B.S. isn't resonating in this campaign. Nor is Clintons. Finally, we will have a good president because enough Americans have awoken from their stupor. So go ahead and keep your head buried in the sand...we don't need you in the revolution.

[malcolm]

Stop screaming this experience crap please,its always good sounding to scream experience,however te ultra cons(conservatives) fail to realize its not the experience only,itswhat you have learned throughout your experience.It is rather foolish and closeminded to continue with these conservative thought patterns of believing experience is the only key,you have no idea what abilities a candidate like Obama could bring to the forefront however because your too head strung into the old policies,which have now started to fail us,you dont suceed or achieve anything.Try opening your mind and seeing things from a different perspective,the extreme conservative mind is poisonous.

[Bryan]

Obama inspires a whole new generation of voters.

Had those with so called "experience" done a better job thus far, the argument the Obama doesn't have experience might resonate. As it stands, we can't get rid of those with beltway experience (Keating 5, Vietnam, Iraq) quick enough. Go Obama!

[kat]

Nic, pretty typical Obama fan reaction - lots of rhetoric abut little substance. Also, your - and that of the Obama cult of personality - arrogance will be your downfall. The gods and guns crowd vote just like the college kids. In fact, statistically speaking, until Obama became the latest big thing, the gods and guns crowd outvoted young adults. But, now the kids are inspired by Obama, blah, blah, yea, yea. The kids were inspired by Timohty Leary too. Kids do that.

As far as awakening from a stupor, it looks like the democrats haven't learned a thing from the republicans. They too are ready to put an untested, unqualified, hollow candidate into office. Those who don't learn from history are destined to repeat it.

Unlike you, I see this thing through the eyes of someone who has watched this country lock step itself right into a war, an insurmountable national debt, a tanking dolllar and and the collapse of world standing. Before it was a bunch of blind loyalists caught up in post 9/11 psuedo nationalism. Now it's Barrack Obama and his ilk of "change" and "vision" but not much else. Obama supporters are very pie eyed and cultish and when nailed on this they always go ad hominum (I can't spell by the way so save that little oldie but goodie)

Now why don't you be real original and call me "stupid", "racist" or some such other Obama retort.

[Ronald Loui]

I was going to explain how universities are run by conservative administrators and boardmembers, to refute the claim that young people are pro-Obama because of their "liberal professors." Since Reagan-Meese, the "liberal professor" is a bit of a myth.

But there is a simpler, better rebuttal. What about all the young people who are pro-Obama who are not yet 18? They haven't even had the benefit of their "liberal professors" telling them whom to vote for. And by the way, this generation of college students is not easily told whom to vote for. They have access to their own information and they make up their own minds.

Fact is, young people who want a better politics and a better world are coming of age faster than at any time in history. People who want to stand in their way are welcome to try -- and they will increasingly find themselves in a dwindling and uncomfortable political minority.

One could say it is just youthful idealism except that much of the developed world, i.e., most of Europe, and most of the well-informed well-educated people in this country (from octogenarians to sweet sixteens), most of whom are over the age of 40, agree with the college students in this country. It is time for the United States to move forward and reclaim its leadership and ideals.

Who is the biggest donor to Obama's campaign at my engineering school? The retired guy who fought in World War II and is asked for his opinion whenever they are looking for a new Chancellor. Yeah, wisdom leads one to Obama, not just idealism.

[Redshawaiian]

Both Hillary and McCain accuse Obama of not having experience, but both of them have conveniently forgotten that:
1. Bill Clinton was unknown and did NOT have experience or serve in the military.
2. McCain spurts out that Obama did not serve in the military, yet he campaigned twice for G.W. Bush who did not serve in the military.

Common Sense tells you that Judgment (not going into Iraq) is more important that experience. When they talk EXPERIENCE, they speak about THE OLD POLITICAL SYSTEM. If you want experience, they you want the same ol same ol. As for me, this nation needs a change and a Person of Good Judgment. And there's only 1 candidate who has good judgement-Barack Obama!

[Patricia]

For those who feel that Obama is inexperienced and that we need more experienced peolple such us governors, you need to take good look at reality. Look at the condition and position our so called "experienced " governors and those like them, have put our country in today. You underestimate Obama. He is the only one who can bring about the change that this country so soarly needs. McCain is just another one of the " Good Old Boys" (can be taken quite literally) who will bring us more of this economical chaos we find our country in today. Listen to the well informed and educated generation who will finally bring this country to its feet. They realize that Obama brings new visions, inspiration and hope to this country. Go Obama!

[Redshawaiian]

Both Hillary and McCain accuse Obama of not having experience, but both of them have conveniently forgotten that:
1. Bill Clinton was unknown and did NOT have experience or serve in the military.
2. McCain spurts out that Obama did not serve in the military, yet he campaigned twice for G.W. Bush who did not serve in the military.

Common Sense tells you that Judgment (not going into Iraq) is more important that experience. When they talk EXPERIENCE, they speak about THE OLD POLITICAL SYSTEM. If you want experience, they you want the same ol same ol. As for me, this nation needs a change and a Person of Good Judgment. And there's only 1 candidate who has good judgement-Barack Obama!

[Redshawaiian]

Both Hillary and McCain accuse Obama of not having experience, but both of them have conveniently forgotten that:
1. Bill Clinton was unknown and did NOT have experience or serve in the military.
2. McCain spurts out that Obama did not serve in the military, yet he campaigned twice for G.W. Bush who did not serve in the military.

Common Sense tells you that Judgment (not going into Iraq) is more important that experience. When they talk EXPERIENCE, they speak about THE OLD POLITICAL SYSTEM. If you want experience, they you want the same ol same ol. As for me, this nation needs a change and a Person of Good Judgment. And there's only 1 candidate who has good judgement-Barack Obama!

[kat]

p.s.

I don't understand why Obama fans are so vitriolic. You won. I've heard of sore losers but not sore winners.

Another thing the Obama fans might want to remember, a little humility goes a long way. "Whom the Gods woud destroy, they first make proud."

It is making my stomach churn watching Obama fans do everything they can to alienate not only their Republican opponents but their fellow Democrats with their superior attitudes and their arrogance. The thought of that maniac John McCain being president makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and if the Obama fans don't stop going out of their way to turn people against their hero, McCain will win and that will be a tragedy. If I have to choose between a neophyte who looks good in a suit and a sadistic maniac I will take the neophyte and hope he's smart enough not to put Oprah in his cabinet but instead finds good people and listens to them. If Obama can actually put his words into action this will be a new world. But he can't do it by letting Michelle put his penis in a mason jar under the White House kitchen sink.

So instead of spitting at people like you have already won the White House, you Nic types might want to consider the fact that you could lose if you don't stop it.

[pdyoung]

Johnathan, your views of Senator Barrack Obama are distorted. Have you looked at the economical condition that your so called "experienced" governors and people like them have put our country in? Take a long look at the mess that the whole country is in. You underestimate Senator Obama. He is the only one who can bring about the change that this country so desperately needs. McCain is just more of the same.and he is one of the " Good Old Boys" [and you can take that literally} who will continue to bring more economical chaos to this country. Listen to the more informed, more knowledgeable college educated generation who wants to help bring this country back to its feet. Obama brings change, great vision, inspiration and hope to a sagging economy. Go Obama!!!!

[pdyoung]

I trust the idealism of today's college students because they see an America they can be proud of and they know it can only be obtaimed through the election of Barrack Obama as President.

[Wilford Brimley III]

Johanan, the 50 year old senior.
Dude, just vote for McBush and be quiet! You're saying you want Obama to be McCain's VeeP? I think you skipped Poly-Sci class.
I bet you get beat up a lot at whatever college you attend. I guess beer kegs and kissing girls are for those young college students.
By the way....do you have grey hair or are you completely bald?

[shirlin]

Young Americans still have both ideals and hope. We adults have become cynical and embittered, and we need our children to remind us why we are in the world--for the future generation. That is both Darwinism and idealism at work. Young Americans see that Hillary Clinton, as with the Bosnia sniper fire delusion, suffers from a fantasy that she is the front-runner, and with her forever shifting goalposts, her new lunatic math and kitchen-sink-sewer, failed and bankrupt campaign, wants Obama to give her MORE TIME as some evil and psychotic person can clear the road to the WH for her . I am a feminist older than Mrs. Clinton and as an American patriot, I need to do the right thing and tell Mrs. Clinton and sex-addicted impeached Bill, get out already! The Clinton dynasty has been spoiling not just Obama's race in November but also the entire Democratic Party and its representatives'-- congressmen, governors, district officers, mayors, etc, etc--ability to win in future elections. Bill is fighting Obama to return to the WH for a third term, and Obama has been fighting not just two Clintons (both playing every dirty card in politics) but also the GOP and the mainstream media who want to see the contest continue and their high ratings maintained. To claim Senator Obama is not electable because he is black is to say that only white Americans, like Bill and Hillary, can become President, as they have for over 200 years. No Native, Hispanic, or Asian American need apply as well just in case they'll end up like Robert Kennedy as well. Is this what we want for our republic? Senator Obama MUST denounce and reject Hillary's shameless agenda. He MUST stop treating Hillary as an older white woman like his mother and therefore to be respected, and show her for the corrupt (25 million dollars gained from influence peddling last year alone), lying (Bosnia sniper fire), bullying (Judas name-calling), ruthless (just look at her ads), unelectable (highest negatives ever in a presidential candidate, and negatives increasing every day) small human that she is. The Party Elders Must remove Hillary, the basest fear-mongering, saber-rattling candidate ever, before something really really bad happens with all the hate-inciting she and Bill have been doing.

[Truesdell]

Experience? Who had more experience than Cheney or Rumsfeld? No thanx.

[SavedGirl]

The typical college student, indoctorated by liberal professors, has been brainwashed into thinking baby killing, homosexual marriage and surrender in Iraq are somehow admireable traits. If God alllows this man to be installed as our "president" you can be sure that the end times are already happening.