Bernie Sanders Is Very Dependent on Infrequent Voters

[workinclasszero]

Bernie Sanders Is Very Dependent on Infrequent Voters
Nate Cohn @Nate_Cohn JAN. 25, 2016

It’s common to talk about the turnout challenge facing Donald Trump, who clearly fares well among those who don’t vote regularly. But the candidate with the biggest turnout challenge in this cycle is probably Bernie Sanders.

Mr. Sanders appears to be extraordinarily dependent on turnout from infrequent voters, even more than Democrats have recently been in general elections, and maybe more than Barack Obama in the 2008 Iowa caucuses — mainly because his support is so strong among the young.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/upshot/bernie-sanders-is-very-dependent-on-infrequent-voters.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[thereismore]

1. Are you hoping for a low turnout? If so, you are against democracy. nt

[Hortensis]

7. Democrats NEVER hope for low turnouts. :)

Obviously you don't like the article, but keep hope. It may just be that young adults will be tired of being poor and hearing about what it was like when their parents were their age (must sound like income utopia in comparison). "You mean you worked as a dishwasher and had your own apartment?" I keep hoping, anyway.

[Ed Suspicious]

10. Oh, that "never" is a tough bar to clear.

[workinclasszero]

9. Jeez...did I say that anywhere?

Its a fact that young people vote the least of any age group. That's just a fact and its not new either.

What I or you wish doesn't change facts one way or the other.

[thereismore]

21. Good. I guess that's a No. What young people do in this election is still an open question,

only their past behavior is fact.

[Empowerer]

19. Where did you get that?

The OP simply posted a link about the campaign, without any comment.

[JRLeft]

2. Eventually young voters turn into regular voters.

[Fumesucker]

3. That's why it's so important to disappoint and discourage them

You know, curb their enthusiasm.

Brilliant plan.

[Hortensis]

4. Yes, "infrequent," and also frivolous voters,

but not just him. A Boston Globe article describes such NH people as a guy who likes social-democrat Bernie and also trending-fascist John Kaisich. Funny, but in an "Oh, my people!" way.

Nevertheless, if Bernie can draw some of the irresponsible and apathetic "populists" and kids out of their easy chairs and off their smart phones long enough to vote, it will be a very good thing. Who knows, once registered and introduced to nearby polling places, maybe some'll even do it again some time.

"Some N.H. voters are flexible when it comes to ideology"
“Kasich, I think, is the best Republican. He’s done a lot. He’s reasonable. He’s just got passion,” he said. “But Bernie has a lot of energy, and he’s surging.” McCracken is part of a fickle and potentially pivotal slice of the New Hampshire electorate who say they are deciding between candidates not only from opposing parties but also of very different ideologies. Such gyrations are injecting another element of uncertainty into what has been an utterly unpredictable primary season.

Voters in the state are notoriously late deciders, and independents can switch between the Democratic and Republican contests, voting in whichever contest they find more compelling the day of the primary. With candidates presenting so many options this year, some voters say they are flirting with seemingly contradictory possibilities — say, choosing between Sanders, who promises to fight for state-sponsored health care for all and free college tuition, and Kasich, who vows to rein in federal spending and balance the budget. ...

Sandra Ziehm, a registered Republican from Nashua, said she has narrowed her choices to Kasich and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida — both members of the GOP’s establishment wing. But with a hint of mischief in her eye, she confessed she may become an independent to vote for Sanders in the Democratic primary.

Independent voters make up about 44 percent of the New Hampshire electorate, and a WBUR poll last week found that about one-third of them have not decided whether they will vote in the Democratic or Republican primaries on Feb. 9. The survey found that Kasich and Jeb Bush would benefit most from a strong independent turnout in the GOP primary, while Sanders would get an edge if large numbers of independents voted in the Democratic contest.“

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/01/24/sanders-kasich-indepedents-consider-odd-ball-options-primary/EyqbLevfZzQjmuF2Fp0PlJ/story.html?s_campaign=email_BG_TodaysHeadline&s_campaign=

[Wilms]

5. Low voter turnout is good for Republicans.

And Hillary.

[Ed Suspicious]

11. yup.

[Dawgs]

6. So did Obama.

He relied on enthusiasm and it worked for him. No reason it can't for Sanders.

[nc4bo]

18. I believe Obama had lots of new voter registrations....obviously THOSE

folks can be considered as voting "infrequently" too.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Maybe they were infrequent because they didn't have anything to vote for.

Now they do. People vote when they feel they have a reason to do so, that it will make a difference.

[Ed Suspicious]

12. This is one of the first elections I can say with a straight face that the candidates aren't all

the same. This is the first time (well, since Obama, but not much before that) that I can say we have a real choice thanks to Bernie being in the race.

[workinclasszero]

13. Its been like this for decades

But okay if it makes you feel better

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. It's not how I feel but how young voters feel.

The future hasn't looked very good for millennials for many reasons, not the least of which is the stagnant and inequitable economic situation supported by the banksters and Wall Street insiders and politicians of both parties. Bernie gives them a reason to vote because he offers hope that something can be done to release the stranglehold of the 1%. I'm old and retired. I'm fortunate enough to have a pension that wasn't taken away and I have Medicare and Social Security. I'll vote for Bernie in the hopes that people younger than me can have those things too.

[Motown_Johnny]

14. So if he wins....

..you will admit that he is expanding the electorate and bringing people into the system to vote for Democrats?

That would mean that he will have coattails for down-ticket (D)s in the General.

[Betty Karlson]

15. They are infrequent voters because most politicians (inlcuding Clinton)

ignore thjem so much that they are turned off from regularly voting. Infrequesnt voters are the ones who refuse to settle for the lesser of two evils, and will only turn up to vote for some good.

Sanders is that good.

[Bradical79]

17. True

A lot will depend on getting people to show up who the Democrats have largely been unable to inspire. Of course without those people, the Democratic party as a whole will be in trouble over the long term.

[hedgehog]

20. They only have to show up one time to turn the election one way or the other.

[artislife]

22. Kind of like h and the Latinos.

As a Latina, I have to admit we don't show up nearly in the numbers we should.

And how many are going to be over the top enthused for her to show up in the numbers we did for Obama?

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/11/10/5-takeaways-about-the-2014-latino-vote/

Historically, Hispanic voter turnout rates are among the lowest of any race or ethnic group in midterm elections. In 2010, 31.2% of Hispanics voted, compared with 48.6% of whites, 44% of blacks and 31% of Asians. (More precise voter turnout numbers won’t be available until the Census Bureau releases its data in spring 2015.)

[Orsino]

23. Frequent voters tend toward Establishment candidates.

That's how we got the Establishment.