Despite all the well-deserved talk about Barack Obama's pull with younger voters, it is surprising how little attention has been paid to his relative lack of appeal with older voters. This is a particularly meaningful omission given how much the aging of America's population weighs on the near future of just about every major program managed by the federal government, most notably Social Security and Medicare.
Given this demographic fact -- which occupied so much of our attention during George W. Bush's tenure -- it may come as a surprise that Barack Obama is significantly behind Hillary Clinton with voters aged 65 and older.
This pattern was particularly clear in the exit polling conducted on Super Tuesday. According to the polling data for 16 of the 24 Super Tuesday states, as made public by CNN, Obama did not carry the 65 and older vote in a single state. His best turnout in this category was a 48%-48% tie with Clinton in Illinois -- Obama's home state. The opposite is also true. Obama trounced Clinton with voters 18-24 in just about every Super Tuesday state.
The key factor in these numbers, however, is the percentage of the overall vote represented by the two age categories. Here again, Super Tuesday revealed a pattern. In the overall turnout for Democrats, the 18-24 age group typically made up only 7%-8% of the overall vote, while the 65 and over age group typically made up 20%-22% of the vote.
While the Obama campaign and the media push a narrative about a youth movement driving the election, that may not be the case after all. It seems just as reasonable to conclude that the youth movement -- while important and inspiring -- is being overshadowed statistically by a senior moment several times larger.
But if this trend is so easy to figure out by looking at a few exit polls, why is it so under reported by the media?
The answer may be that the big media newsrooms covering the 2008 primary season would rather keep reporting the Obama campaign's undeniably infectious message of 'hope and change,' than put their noses to the grindstone on the more onerous policy proposals that speak to concerns of senior citizens.
Why should reporters write about the liquidity of the Social Security trust, prescription drug plans, Medicare co-payment proposals, and predatory lending safeguards when they can just repost a YouTube video by Will.I.Am (it's a great video--I like it, too)?
Why should reporters do hard research on the mounting financial fears amongst seniors needing long-term hospice, assisted living, and independent living when they can run a story about the Super Bowl ad the Obama campaign ran.
And why should reporters go into the field and interview seniors citizens -- asking them about their hopes and the things they want changed -- when they can continue to run the same handful of stories about a candidate who is shaking up America by appealing to young voters.
Barack Obama's appeal amongst young voters is an inspiring story. It is a long overdue and heartfelt story welcome amongst all but the most cynical of Americans on both sides of the political spectrum. The media has done a great job reporting it.
But America's seniors also have a story to tell that is of central importance to this election season. And its high time the media started reporting it.
(Cross posted from Frameshop)
Follow Jeffrey Feldman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JeffreyFeldman
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Why does the media keep telling us the republican
The republican
I think Edwards should SUE the media for not giving us voters a level playing field to judge our candidates
Obama is preaching to our youth that his DNA as president would "set them free". What does mixed ethnicity have to do with being a good president?
We need to judge the characters of each of them - judge "the content of their characters
I do recall in Kennedy's endorsemen
I heard Obama in the last debate talk about having Universal Health Care negotiatio
So all I ask is "How Can We?" I think it's a reasonable question that should be answered before giving Obama my vote.
A telemarket
At the end of our conversati
I suggested that she vote for Barack Obama in the upcoming primary.
AND . . .
She stumbled over his name in reply, honestly admitting that she's never heard of him. She told me she works a swing shift, has a large family, and is in the midst of some major financial challenges . . .
So, she told me, she has little time for television and had planned on voting for Hillary.
The point of this story isn't to say something negative about the American voter. It's not the fault of folks that they don't have as much time to participat
HOWEVER, I would say that this anecdote, when combined with the fact that OBAMA does well WHEREVER PEOPLE MEET HIM FACE TO FACE - and by a HUGE margin - offers telling evidence of the truth behind all the stories about OBAMA doing poorly with group X or group Y.
What it says is that OBAMA is a new face and the Clinton's are an establishe
CONTINUED BELOW . . .
How can we fight the good battle? He's a fake! Why isn't anyone saying anything?? No one is even asking him any hard questions! Reminds me of the media messages we got to vote for Bush/Chene
Hillary and Bill have already been tutored on the red button. I can't believe Obama will get the majority of the people to trust him with the red button. I won't be one of them. I can't do it. I would be more afraid with him than even Bush/Chene
It is his character that counts.
There is something wrong with his character when he conducts his campaign the way he does (as an above it all - religious man), encouragin
tha babyboomer
Born in 1972 ;)
To maximize resources, to make sure that EVERYone has a shot at SOMEthing, you gotta have: a facility, trained people, supplies and equipment, electricit
As far as the rest of it goes, I think the candidates should come up with common policies that show favoritism toward none, but seek to accomplish goals that will be beneficial towards many, hopefully all.
Seniors care about the future,too
Interestin
But what if it's simpler than that? Seniors disproport