http://action.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?id=2147492137Elijah Friedeman, the Millennial Perspective
Over the past several months, Pew research has released several polls that take a look at the worldview of the Millennial generation. The most recent poll from Pew shows a marked drop in support for the Democrats over the past year and a rise in Republican supporters and leaners among the Millennials.
In 2008 at the height of the presidential campaign, the Millennials sided with Democrats by a 32% margin, 62% identified with the Democrats opposed to a mere 30% who classified themselves as Republicans.
But 2008 has come and gone. And so has the overwhelming support for Obama and his brand of Hope and Change. Young people fell for Obama’s message of hope faster than anyone else. And they’ve been the first to see their expectations dashed on the cold, hard rocks of reality. Unemployment has hit the under-25 crowd harder than any other segment of the population. Democrats have tried to pass bills, forcing young people to get health insurance, even if they don’t want it. The deficit has grown tremendously over the past year and the Millennials are starting to wake up to the fact that they will be stuck paying for the ballooning national debt.
Now only 54% of Millennials call themselves Democrats, a drop of 8%. And 40% of Millennials consider themselves Republicans, a rise of 10%. Democrats undeniably hold the lead in support from young people, but the way things are headed in this country, I wonder just how long that will hold true.