Many young Austin voters choose Barack Obama!

[RiverStone]

News8 - Austin, TX
2/25/08

Whoever said there is apathy in youth may not have met the young voters supporting Sen. Barack Obama.

Obama supporter Ben Trotter said young people of all ages are supporting the Democratic presidential candidate.

"Kids are coming out ready to vote," Trotter said. "Kids who can't vote are coming out ready to work."

Just feet from the University of Texas campus, students are working, pledging their support to a man who they say is reaching their generation. It's a generation with a short political memory, which means the name Clinton barely rings a bell.

Obama supporter Claire Dewstow said she remembers Clinton's name but not much else.

"There's really not much there in recognition, I mean obviously the name sounds familiar," Dewstow said.

Political analyst Mary Dixon studies patterns of young voters. She said the limited history of today's youth is having an effect.

"They have a very immediate sense of politics," Dixon said. "They are looking at the now and the future, not the past."

This begs the question of how much the average young voter knows about Obama's record. And more importantly why it is that he deserves their vote.

"I really cannot pinpoint it -- you know -- there's just something about him," Obama supporter Rukiya Middleton said.

Trotter said Obama's unlike any other candidate.

"The littlest things people are excited about and people want to be a part and it's something that we've never seen before," he said.

Voter turnout is looking like something we've never seen before. Huge early voting numbers are indicators that interest across the board is high and that young voters are making a mark.

"Young people are coming out and being mobilized to ask other young people to vote and that's the number one predictor if young people will go to the polls," Dixon said.

With just days until the primary, all signs are pointing to yes.

http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=201314

[cali]

1. uh oh. the hillie heathers will have a field day with this one

it will serve only to endorse their view that all Obama supporters are young and ignorant fad voters.

[RiverStone]

2. I work with young college bound students...

And I assure you, their support is neither ignorant or a fad. :hi:

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. My brother's whole family is voting Obama which is 5 votes

Travis County will be a blow out for Obama.

[cooolandrew]

4. Gotta love Texas. (((Texas))) =)

:bounce::toast: