Young Voters Help Obama Turn Palmetto Purple

Barack Obama swept to victory here in South Carolina, giving this once-red state a purple hue. Over 520,000 people voted tonight in the Democratic primary - walloping the turnout of 440,000 voters in last week's Republican primary. Barack Obama earned more votes tonight than were cast for all candidates combined in the 2004 Democratic primary.

By winning a Southern state by an overwhelming margin, in the face of opposition from the venerable establishment, a populist native son (John Edwards), the longtime favorite (Senator Clinton), and the former President of the United States (Bill Clinton), Barack Obama earned a historic victory.
While much was made of the race and gender politics this week, it was Obama's investment in young people that helped win the day. With the establishment supporting Clinton, Obama had to build his own grassroots army. He found willing recruits among young people.

We discussed this yesterday at an inspiring campaign boot camp for about 50 aspiring leaders at South Carolina Democratic Party HQ. When Palmetto State native son Donnie Fowler and I talked about how Democrats utilized house meetings to win Congress in 2006, we were told that the Obama campaign had introduced a house meeting strategy to South Carolina in 2007. They worked across the state, encouraging people to bring friends together, watch a DVD, and discuss the candidate's position on the issues. They used new technology to text their friends and mobilize online social networks. Recruiting volunteers through volunteers was bottom-up management that worked, propelling Obama to victory and driving the largest Democratic primary turnout in South Carolina history. For the next 8 months, state chair Carol Fowler and her team will be harnessing this positive new energy for change into support for the Democratic ticket up and down the ballot, driving the national vote for change.

Going forward to Super Tuesday, let's hope all campaigns will ride the energy of turning palmetto purple. Take a lesson from House Democratic Whip James Clyburn and "chill." Tell those surrogates to halt; to put aside the politics of personal destruction and lift up the aspirations of the American people. Inspire young and young-at-heart people to leadership roles in your campaigns. Don't drive us to cynicism - invest in our power to shape the future. Our cell phones are on - we're waiting for your text.

Follow Christine Pelosi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sfpelosi

Comments

[besscannon]

12:03 AM on 01/30/2008

Why is it so easy for people to be led to the sacrifical alter by fine oratory? Doesn't any of this younger generation think for themselves? Stand on a soapbox, make a fine, moving speech and the mice will follow you like the pied piper. Is fine speech making going to solve our country's problems? I don't think so. I think experience in what is necessary to be done and how to do it is important. More important than a fiery speech.
Grow up!! Think for yourselves!!

[sofia]

08:45 AM on 01/28/2008

In 2006, the country went to vote overwhelmingly for the Democrats, precisely for CHANGE. Where did that get us???? Your mom made history by being the first woman speaker, where did that get us???? The Democrats are weak and spineless, they continue to play nice when the opponents are playing dirty and winning. And yes, your mom should have never taken impeachment off the table. So, I do not care who wins the primary, I just hope they put this country back into shape and hold the criminals accountable, even if they are no longer in power.

[dbredes]

07:00 AM on 01/28/2008

Looking at some of the pictures with Bill and Hillary together...I think they look a little like my husband and me. Our children are Chelsea's age. My husband and Bill's hair color are pretty similar..and I look younger of course, since the older I get the blonder I become....hmmmmmm...

While my husband and I led very different lives than the Clintons, we came from the same time. Yes, I trained young men with college degrees to be my boss. I was the second woman ever allowed to become a member in the downtown Seattle Lions Club. It was a big deal. Then came our female senator - a mother in sneakers and another and finally a governor.

This is why, the idea of a "Woman President" is so exciting to me. Finally..finally..finally.. What a legacy to leave our girls...there...we did it...and So Can You!

So, it is with heavy heart that I cannot support Hillary's candidacy. Hillary is not "the one" whom we have eagerly awaited. The first woman president will not come from my generation.

It is time to turn the page and pass the guantlet.

This man, Obama has stirred the nation's heart to reach past the barriers of the past and begin a new chapter for America. Transcending issues of race or gender, he has brought hope and empowerment, to a new generation of democrats.

This is a "good thing".

For the sake of our girls, I will wait.

[Rubiconski]

12:11 AM on 01/28/2008

OBAMA HAS ENERGIZED A NEW GENERATION!!

FOR THAT ALONE HE HAS MY VOTE!!

The Obama Rap: Get Down To the Booths

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTOo-1Cp6ho

[keriheb]

07:00 PM on 01/27/2008

I wonder whether Hillary wants Obama vetted as Ron Brown was vetted in this situation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etk3Db2FGbU&feature=related

[sockman]

06:56 PM on 01/27/2008

Ummm, If the race card was played by the Clintons why did Edwards...the so called grown up, suffer such a terrible loss? What people are dancing delicately around is the simple fact that black voters turned out in great numbers and supported the black candidate. There. I said it for all you who pretend to be color blind and above making any analysis based on race. Obama will continue to do well with black voters in every state and with young white "liberals" who need to be inspired and led. The rest of white America will vote as it always does. They will vote for the white candidate.

[qofdisks]

06:14 PM on 01/27/2008

Dish Network is censoring Obama's interview by putting on sports during This Week with GS regularly scheduled time...again!

[Issak]

04:34 PM on 01/27/2008

The grand delusion- if those "young" people were to bother understanding that Obama essentially stands to the right of center on most democratic issues - instead of voting ala American idol- this mythologizing and manufacturing of consent could not occur.

It's disturbing to see just how easy, the masses can blindly follow.

Ultimately, the more things "change" the more they remain the same.

What a charade.

[Dendy]

04:13 PM on 01/27/2008

This is not American idol!!!
Every time Obama wins the media acts like we just received god’s gift to America.
Where were Oprah and everybody 4 years ago when we really needed the change?
whenever Hillary wins the media kind of rolls there eyes and Obama starts complaining that she stole his votes and threatens to sue.
Now days every news networks sound like Obama commercials and Clinton attack ads?
Why is it so easy to criticize a woman, but god forbid you try to do that with a black man? You’ll be immediately labeled as a Racist.
IT’S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO educate him or herself, look at the issues and stop the madness.
I don’t mind being inspired, but when you don’t leave with your parents anymore and you are on your own healthy detailed plan on specific issue actually becomes important.

[fourex]

02:47 PM on 01/27/2008

Christine, thank you for this post. I was skeptical about its bias, based on the Pelosi's active and passive support for GW Bush. Until the family explains positions that assisted GW Bush in his torture, murder and spying campaigns I'll continue to doubt your sincerity.

[longislandlol]

02:09 PM on 01/27/2008

God bless you and your family--- Obama is the light you have awakened us to. Thank you.

[RightWingNutCracker]

02:01 PM on 01/27/2008

So much for Obama not being the establishment candidate.
I love it when rich Democrats get to vote on Ideals...must be nice.
Bread and butter issues matter to me and HRC is my candidate

[TxWonderWoman]

01:47 PM on 01/27/2008

Hi Can someone please explain to me why we are talking about the youth vote? They didn't even show up to vote yesterday. All exit polls show 13 or 14% of the vote came from voters 29 and younger. Voters 45 and over account for a whopping 62%. Don't get me wrong I think it would be great if young people got involved in the process. I just haven't seen evidence of that yet. And articles like this even seem to be a lot of the "old school" smoke and mirrors... Show me where I'm wrong. Don't tell me.

[mellene]

11:01 AM on 01/27/2008

I think we'll see this spill out more all over America. Americans are sick to death of what the boomer generation is and has done to the country from staggering levels of debt to a poorly justified invasion of Iraq, because they could. Reminds me of why Bill said he took Monica, because he could. I think the younger generation is trying to turn that page supported by the older ones who are sick of what's been happening to over the last few decades.

[Mack20]

08:11 AM on 01/27/2008

Please tell me, Christine. You seem like an intelligent, level-headed person. Why do liberal democrats constantly try to segregate America? Red State vs. Blue State, black vs. white, rich vs. poor, north vs. south, conservative vs. progressive and democrat vs. republican. It's a constant we vs. them mentality designed to garner votes and support.

And please, tell all these GW Bush haters here he is not the devil incarnate. You spent a few days and maybe weeks with him on his 2000 campaign. I saw your show. You commented with surprise how nice a guy he was. Do you still believe that?