2009 Election: Young Voters Who Helped Obama Stayed Home

RICHMOND, Va. — Last year, 23-year-old Rashida Hill watched the presidential debates, visited the college political party meetings and put a Barack Obama bumper sticker on her townhouse door. She voted for Obama because she felt like the election was about "being a part of something."

But on Tuesday, the Virginia Commonwealth University student didn't bother voting in the governor's race because, she said, the candidates didn't give her anything to get excited about.

"The simple fact is, unless you put it in front of somebody, they're really not going to seek it out," Hill said.

Many of the young, first-time voters who propelled Obama to the presidency stayed home this year, a glaring absence that helped Republicans win governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey. More than 3 million voters who cast ballots in the 2008 presidential election – many of them minorities – failed to show up at the polls in either state.

Obama carried Virginia with 52 percent of the vote last year, but only 43 percent of voters surveyed in Associated Press exit polls Tuesday said they had voted for him.

Another group that solidified Obama's victory – independents – turned their backs on Democrats this year.

In Virginia, independents in 2008 helped make Obama the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1964. But on Tuesday, they voted 2-1 in favor of Republican Bob McDonnell, who easily defeated Democrat Creigh Deeds. About one in 10 Virginia voters switched their support from Obama in last year's election to the Republican candidate for governor this year.

In New Jersey, independent voters who narrowly favored Obama last year strongly supported Republican Chris Christie for governor over Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine. Christie won 49 percent to 45 percent.

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"A lot of this had to do with the collapse of the economy and future prospects for the nation and the state," said Merle Black, a political science professor at Emory University in Atlanta.

Independent voters "are very performance-oriented. They just want to know what have you done for me lately or what have you done to me lately," he said.

Outgoing Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who also serves as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said the Democratic losses in Virginia and New Jersey had more to do with local issues than Obama's first-year performance.

Exit polling showed support for Obama remained steady despite the Republican victories.

The president campaigned hard for Corzine, making three visits to the state, including one on the last weekend.

The president's appeal worked for Roger Johnson, a 50-year-old restaurant employee from Cherry Hill, N.J., who said he had qualms with Corzine but voted for him, anyway.

"I went in to help the president. I wasn't going to vote for Corzine," said Johnson, a registered Republican who usually votes for Democrats. "But I did."

About 60 percent of voters in both states said their feelings about Obama were not a factor in their vote in the governor's race, exit polls showed. In Virginia, a quarter of voters said their vote for McDonnell was in direct opposition to Obama. In New Jersey, those who said he was not a factor were evenly divided in their support.

Even some of those who did not support Obama last year said they feel like he's doing the best he can considering the circumstances under which he's serving.

Linda Doland, 60, of Chesterfield, Va., said she thinks Obama is way off the mark on health care and Afghanistan, but "I think he has the best interest of our country at heart."

Still, many just chose to sit this one out.

Mark Dorroh, 58, of Richmond, has not missed an election since he turned 21. He voted for Obama last year, not because he was particularly inspired, but because he said the Harvard graduate "seemed like he would be competent and able."

Neither of the candidates impressed him, so he skipped this election.

"I just wasn't in the mood to vote," he said.

___

Associated Press writers Bob Lewis in Richmond and Geoff Mulvihill in Trenton, N.J., contributed to this story.

Comments

[DeloresT]

In Atlanta almost nobody came out to vote....young, seniors, black, white. Unfortunately people are so involved in making ends meet, that they don't bother to come out and vote. I'm one of those who will vote in rain, snow or bitter cold weather. There are so many people throughout the world who risk their lives to do so.

[LittleMittens]

we would love to get out the vote - but you must give us something to beleive in to earn that vote. We put dems in control in 2006

[springsm]

These are young people. They voted in droves for Obama to help make history..they don't care about the local tripe. Many have to vote absentee and don't take care of that. That means the democratic party had better do a better job of keeping these people in their sights and nurture them along. Students are fickle but they do have some very high expectations in their leaders. I am disappointed in both but I won't give up.. I know the youth of today can do it. We just have to remind them that it means something and that Obama still needs supporters and believers. Not instant gratification however.

[DeloresT]

Nicely stated.

[Maezeppa]

There was low Dem. turnout generally, especially in Va. where essentially there were two Republicans to choose from. It's the economy stupid.

[seedoubleyou]

You can't count on young voters. Sorry, but that's the truth.

[4TJefferson]

As a GOTV caller in my area I have to just say the getting to the young voter is the most difficult i.e. They are in school, moving or out having fun. Many probably did not even know there was an election this year at all. With that said. The people that I talk to do not want to go back to the "good ol' Bush day" that is for sure. Obama said he would work to fix the economy and GDP is now positive again but the goopers say NO. Obama said he would withdraw from Iraq and track down the Taliban and Al Qaeda but the goopers say NO. Obama gives the order to shoot Somali pirates and goopers cry for the pirates. Obama wants to improve heath care but the goopers say NO and want to improve profits of insurance companies. Obama said he would shut down Gitmo but goopers say NO. Obama said he would reduce green house gases and create green jobs but goopers say NO. So, goopers can yell NO until they are hoarse but that tack is only going to go so far.

[taddles]

Young voters are a fickle lot, they always have been. Kinda like herding cats.

[magicmary]

To all you young'ns who didn't vote.... NAUGHTY!

[dizmo4]

When Deeds is running as a Republican -- against Stimulus, against Health care ( promising that he'd opt out of any public option) why should they turn out?

If Dems run as Republicans, they can't expect to get the support of democratic base.

solution: Run as Democrats. Be proud to be progressive.

[wm1066]

The young people stayed home because the DNC ignored them. The DNC still doesn't get how the Democrats won the last two elections. If Keane and Rahm are still playing their tired game plan in 2010 The Dems will lose again. They pushed people who were Democrats in name only and expected the young people to vote for them....where is Howard Dean Mr Obama?

[Louisknyc]

Unfortunately, this is an example of young people not truly understanding the process. When they stay home, they hurt no one but themselves. Obama, and only Obama, is NOT the answer. Obama can do many wonderful things, but without the right successors, all can be undone. Stay involved young people. Pick the lesser of two evils, if necessary. Write in a vote. There are many ways of expressing your disappointment with our current system. Staying quietly at home says ZERO about the problems.

[plaidsportcoat]

too bad our education system brings up passive dumbos

they have to pay the deficit, too

and suffer the consequences of their foolish youth inaction

[Countess]

They did the right thing as these people are unworthy of votes.

[MEN8v]

No vote, no right to complain in my book. You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem, and by not showing up these potential voters did a disservice to the rest of us who did.

[17ladyslippers]

Concur, 100%. People worldwide work and fight for the privilege to vote.

My kids fall into the young voter demographic and never miss an election. People have no right to an opinion or to complain if they don't vote.

[Harpo1129]

It's the same old story. As bad as the Republicans have been for this country, they know how to get out the vote. Democrats on the other hand are lazy when it comes to off and midterm elections. Exit polls show that the democrats just didn't come out. If this trend continues, the Republicans will once again be in power next year. Wake up Democrats! Get out there and vote in every election. If the democrats had actually come out and voted this past Tuesday, NJ wouldn't be stuck with K@rl R0ve's hand picked t0adie for the next 4 years.

[jws2346]

Good Grief. I certainly hope all those beautiful young people don't give up on our system. Come on Obama, do something earth shaking, if not that, at least something that would attract the attention of Americas future!

[bbrecht]

It's not Obama's fault. Most candidates ignore young people-- wise up democrats!

[17ladyslippers]

The lesson to draw from your comment is that young people should actively participate to be taken seriously by candidates. Works both ways...