Education platform: The winning strategy for winning young voters

What does Obama do next? Exactly more of what he's been doing since his State of the Union address.

In a speech he delivered earlier today at the University of Michigan, Obama stressed the importance of increasing college affordability.

As we both argued in today's Boston Globe, the perfect campaign strategy in order to attract young voters is one that involves an aggressive effort to take on the continually sky-rocketing cost of an American college education. 

The 19 GOP debates have been void of any discussion of the country's education policy, which may be the reason why most of the Republican candidates have been largely unable to mobilize a significant number of young voters.

Meanwhile, President Obama has rolled out a comprehensive college affordability platform, which includes incentives for colleges that offer standardized student aid forms.

Here's how The New York Times characterized Obama's education proposals:

Under the plan, which the president outlined on Friday morning in a speech at the University of Michigan, the amount available for Perkins loans would grow to $8 billion, from the current $1 billion. The president also wants to create a $1 billion grant competition, along the lines of the Race for the Top program for elementary and secondary education, to reward states that take action to keep college costs down, and a separate $55 million competition for individual colleges to increase their value and efficiency.

The administration also wants to give families clearer information about costs and quality, by requiring colleges and universities to offer a “shopping sheet” that makes it easier to compare financial aid packages and — for the first time — compiling post-graduate earning and employment information to give students a better sense of what awaits them.

For me, encouraging colleges to standardize the complicated and confusing forms required for students to qualify for aid is a major step toward solving the economic inequality that plaques the nation's education system.

Even if all of the details aren't worked out yet, positioning education in the forefront of his election-year policy proposals is extremely wise. While a divided Congress may refuse to pass forthcoming Obama education proposals, this is precisely the kind of plan that will bolster his support among young voters.

And with an articulate messenger, Obama's education speeches are going to resonate with most young voters. Here's an excerpt from the Detroit News coverage of his remarks.

This is going to be one of the most important issues that not just you face but everyone in the entire country faces."

School officials estimated the crowd at Al Glick Field House to be roughly 4,000. Many of those in attendance had waited hours in line overnight Wednesday to get their tickets the following morning. And many others began lining up in the rain and snow for Friday's general admission appearance the night before.

Drawing on his own experience and that of first lady Michelle Obama, the president told that crowd: "Your president and your first lady were in your shoes, not that long ago. We didn't come from wealthy families. The only way we were able to achieve what we achieved is because we got a great education. We could not have done that unless we lived in a country that made a commitment to opening up that opportunity to all people."

Obama's comments come as the average tuition at public universities in Michigan more than doubled over the last decade. In 2002, the average cost for a resident undergraduate student was $4,945, according to the House Fiscal Agency. In 2012, the average cost is $10,416.

Like I said earlier in this post and in earlier SCOOP2012 chronicles, if Obama hammers home an education platform he will ensure his re-election. Do you agree, Alexander?