The more they debate, the more GOP scares away young support

It's far too early to weigh-in on the song and dance surrounding President Obama or to determine that it isn't as developed as during the 2008 campaign.

At this point in 2008, there was no will.i.am video, nor was their vocal support from most of the celebs who eventually backed Obama. In fact, then Democratic frontrunner Hilary Clinton enjoyed an equal amount of celebrity support.

I'd argue that Obama earned much of his prominent backing based on three distinct characteristics of the electorate.

First, after eight years of preemptive wars and socially conservative domestic policies, American voters were eager to embrace the more liberal policies offered up by whoever the Democratic candidate would have been.

Second, Obama is a skilled speaker. He comes across as reasonable and well-thought out. No matter where you sit on the spectrum, you want to believe him when he speaks.

Finally, celebrities — who sit a little further to the left on the spectrum then the average American — hated President Bush.

I can't state strongly enough how much of Obama's celebrity support came due to disillusionment with President George W. Bush partnered with the mobilizing effect of Obama's charismatic and visionary oration.

At the end of the day, whether it be Gingrich, Santorum or Romney, I can't see celebrity support crystalizing around any of the GOP hopefuls.

Just look at their answers in tonight's GOP Debate in Mesa, Arizona. While the candidates, most notably Romney on his responses about the auto bailouts, looks to move to the center on some of the major issues, this slate still represents candidates forced too far to the right during the primary to be successful in the national election.

The obvious exception is Ron Paul, and also-rans Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson. Just imagine, for a second, if it was those three on the stage plus Mitt Romney. The GOP rhetoric would be much more moderate and therefore, more marketable to the general electorate.

Hopefully, once the field has narrowed a bit more following the slew of primaries during the next two weeks , the GOP candidate will be able to flee some of the more divisive stances they've all been forced to take with the likes of Rick Santorum, Michelle Bachmann and other extreme conservatives in the race, who have forced the dialogue ridiculously far to the right.

In the meantime, President Obama continues to the excite his young base through his smooth voice — both in speeches and songs.

Alexander: What must Obama do in his Thursday speech in Florida to more solidify his stranglehold on young voters?