For now, youth will rally around Obama in 2012

Karey Harrigan
Columnist

Love or hate Barack Obama, his victory in the 2008 election was a momentous feat 219 years in the making.

Then, for one of the first times in history, the youth felt they could have a voice that mattered in choosing who would represent our country.

Next year, Obama will be up for re-election, and the youth will be another demographic on which he will be able to count.

Late last year, many opinions about Obama and his possible re-election were grim – the approval rating for his presidency reached an all time low. Take into consideration, though, a country struggling with a recovering economy and overall dissatisfaction with Congress. However, through all of the doubt and criticism, he has seemed to remain popular with his young supporters.

According to the Harvard Institute of Politics Survey, Obama’s approval rating among college students has increased nine points to 60 percent over the past five months. According to Gallup, he is also maintaining more than half of the 18-29 voter bloc.

These are both great statistical examples of that loyalty. His standing with students throughout his presidency show, although times have been hard, he has lived up to much of the expectation from the youth and has earned their respect and trust, if nothing else.

“I think he will be elected. I think he’s done enough and enough people will vote for him again to see if he can continue the progress that he is trying to make,” VCU Senior and previous Obama voter Jimmy LaLonde said. “There have been a lot of political problems that he’s had to face, and I think he’s done a good job. It’s more outside sources than his own that are hindering his administration.”

Overall, it seems students understand that the issues our nation faces have no easy fix and are willing to let another term represent Obama’s chance to continue to prove his potential.

The policies the Obama administration has adopted, like the health care reform for example, have resonated with the youth. This is because the aspects of the law that were publicized mostly included provisions that assisted younger age groups.

Although overlooked or rather unacknowledged, students are the unfortunate group facing the brunt of a still-staggering economy with constant tuition hikes, fear of unemployment and a bleak retirement future. Yet they have remained and evidently will continue to stay loyal to their 2008 vote, for now.

Barack Obama received the highest share of youth votes for one presidential candidate in history, exemplifying that he simply has the strong ability to attract those who previously may have had no interest in voting. That is an undeniable, sought after and priceless skill that ensured his victory three years ago and will likely remain his strongest suit coming into his 2012 campaign.

The youth’s contagious passion to persuade non-supporters and others will be vital for a winning campaign. With the help of the youth vote, President Obama’s next term will be a chance to evoke the change that he has promised his biggest supporters.