Opinion: Galvanizing ‘Generation Obama’
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Barack Obama’s presidential campaign takes a concrete step this weekend to try to harness what it sees as one of its key constituencies --- young people --- into a direct political force.
Parties on Saturday in several cities nationwide, including one in Miami that Obama will attend, are to serve as the official launch for local groups that his aides hope will help them raise money, organize volunteers in early caucus and primary states, conduct voter registration drives and then turn out the vote.
The folks spearheading Obama’s White House bid already have made one good move in getting this effort off the ground. The Chicago Tribune’s Christi Parsons reports that for months, Obama staffers referred to his young supporters, in all earnestness, as ‘Generation BO.’ But that moniker has been changed --- and, more importantly, dramatically improved --- to ‘Generation Obama’ (the groups being formed will be known as ‘GO chapters’).
In Los Angeles, the Obama gathering will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. (PDT) at the Falcon restaurant on Sunset; admission costs $25.
The Obama camp no doubt takes heart from a strong uptick in voting by young people in the most recent presidential elections. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), turnout among citizens ages 18 to 29 climbed from roughly 35% in 1996 to 42% in 2000 and then to 52% in 2004.
Still, at the risk of being a party pooper, contemplate this figure: in Iowa, the opening contest in the nomination process where a strong showing seems essential, those under 35 years old accounted for just 10% of the turnout in the 2004 Democratic caucuses.
More broadly, even if Obama emerges as the clear favorite among young people in the Democratic race (a scenario Hillary Clinton, in particular, will do her best to keep from happening) his challenge remains establishing significant support within other segments of the party’s electorate, as The Times’ Ron Brownstein spelled out months ago. So far, there’s been little sign of Obama making this type of progress.
-- Don Frederick