Turnout Among 18-24 Year Olds Could Break Records, IOP Survey Released

The IOP has just released the results of its Fall 2006 Young Voter Survey.

For the first, time we polled college students AND non-college 18-24 year olds.

LINK: http://www.iop.harvard.edu/

HIGHLIGHTS

• Midterm election turnout among 18-24 year old could reach record levels in 2006.

• A strong majority of likely young voters favor Democratic control of Congress.

• A near-majority of young people favor total troop withdrawal from Iraq within the next year.

• 18-24 year olds trust the military and the United Nations more than Congress and the federal government.

• President George W. Bush gets “C-” grade on seven key issues.

• President Bush’s handling of Iraq, clearly the issue that is driving this election and the President’s second-term agenda, is viewed by more than two-in-five (43%) young Americans (and 67% of young African Americans) as a
  failure or “F."

Obviously, this is big. Youth voter turnout for midterm elections is usually very low. High turnout next week would represent both an individual record-breaking event as well as reveal a trend of increased youth involvement in politics.

Also, as the poll clearly shows that young people are strongly siding with the Dems, high youth turnout could confound the pollsters who always weight their polls based on expected demographic participation.

Check out the rest of the poll results. It's a treasure-trove of interesting data. For one, I can't get over how much young Americans HATE the media.

For Joe, It's All About the Power

In Monday's CT Senate debate, Joe Lieberman let slip a little tidbit of intention wihch that is particularly telling about his primary interest in politics....

The question: "Is there any circumstance under which you would not caucus with the Democrats if you are reelected?"

Joe: "The answer is no,"

Pause, then: "I want to give you a parenthetical because I'm sure that this is not going to happen. If, for instance, the Democrats tried to deny me my seniority, I'd be foolish ..."

Lieberman quickly cut himself off without following through with his threat."Tried to deny me my seniority?" Your Seniority? At least we know now that Joe holds his personal power above all else.

Douchebag.

Nice guys they are...

FROM THE POLITICAL WIRE:

White House Dismissed Evangelicals as "Nuts"

David Kuo, who worked in the White House Office of Faith Based Initiatives, "says some of the nation’s most prominent evangelical leaders were known in the office of presidential political strategist Karl Rove as 'the nuts.' National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles in person and then were dismissed behind their backs and described as 'ridiculous,' 'out of control,' and just plain 'goofy.'"

"More seriously, Kuo alleges that then-White House political affairs director Ken Mehlman knowingly participated in a scheme to use the office, and taxpayer funds, to mount ostensibly 'nonpartisan' events that were, in reality, designed with the intent of mobilizing religious voters in 20 targeted races."

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And I always thought they were on the same team. As much as I'm not crazy about voters who make their decisions on a purely religious basis, the Administration is treating people like trash--"their" people. In any case, those the White House deems 'nuts' are still people. Don't get me wrong--it's not like I don't think politicians use people. But this is just despicable.