For Obama campaign, chilling survey imperils President's youth vote in 2012

The closing gap between President Obama and Governor Romney among young voters - from a 2/3 majority over McCain on Election Day 2008 to a one-digit lead against this year's prospective GOP nominee in recent polls - is potentially devastating news for the White House.

A new survey reveals young Americans are considerably less enthusiastic about Obama's re-election than they were about his candidacy four years ago. Scholar Russell Walter Mead observes as much in American Interest:

One of the biggest political stories of 2008 was the rise of the Millennials as an electoral force. As “Obamamania” swept the nation, college students across the country abandoned their usual political apathy and volunteered for the Obama campaign in droves, canvassing, phone banking and harnessing the power of social media. This youth enthusiasm paid dividends for the Obama campaign, and was reflected in the vote totals: Obama beat McCain among 18-24 year-olds by a whopping 34 percent, winning 66 percent of the vote.

In order to win re-election, the President will have to preserve a sizable advantage over young voters. In what is likely to be a neck-and-neck electoral finish, a 2/3 surplus of young voters may be a prerequisite for Democratic victory.
 
And, apparently, Obama is aware: He is focusing on the youth vote next week, as USA Today reports. "His next stops: The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Iowa in Iowa City. The issue: student loans."

A White House announcement to college reporters reporters reads: "More than 7.4 million students with federal student loans will see their interest rates double on July 1 unless Congress steps in to keep them low,"

Young people will welcome President Obama tackling the number issue directly affecting 18-25 year-olds. But three and a half years later - after being sold on Obama as a fixer-in-chief - student debt has continued to proliferate.

And their economic reality is no less grueling. Many young people say they want to hear specific proposals to improve college affordability and, most central in the long term, millennial social mobility. (In GOOD Magazine, I recently grappled with efforts President Obama and Governor Romney might consider.)

News of President Obama's campus visits was an incredibly quick turnaround. While the survey may be an ominous warning for Democrats, Obama seems to be taking immediate notice, which suggests he knows how central he deems the youth vote in his re-election odds.

So, Wesley, as Molly Ball asks in the Atlantic: How severe is Obama's trouble with young voters at this point?  

For better youth vote prospects, time for the real Mitt Romney to stand up

Alexander,

In your most recent post you make a point worth repeating - if pending GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney is going to begin his transformation into "moderate Mitt," the sooner the better.

Now, since deciding to name this post after the popular rap song by Eminem, I've got to embed what has become the best parody of the election season thus far.

As funny as it may be, the question of who is the real Mitt Romney has haunted the GOP frontrunner for the bulk of the campaign. It's safe to say that, had voters felt more comfortable with Romney then the likes of Rick Perry, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich never would have soared (however briefly) to the top of the polls.

Fortunately, I'm pretty positive it won't be long before Romney has fully retooled his campaign to be more about the general election and will put his fellow GOP hopefuls in the review mirror once and for all.

Once he's done that, we'll see the real Romney - a moderate who used states' powers under the constitution to pass healthcare and create jobs. The real Romney - especially if he's partnered with a reasonable running mate such as Ohio Sen. Rob Portman - has a legitimate chance to win the middle of the spectrum and unseat President Obama.

Alexander, what stances must Romney take now not only to win over young voters, but also to complete his transformation into "Moderate Mitt"?