The electorate didn't change their minds about Obama/Democrats in two years

[scheming daemons]

Look at the graph.


What happened was that different segments of America had different levels of enthusiasm than they had two years ago.


People who voted for Obama two years ago didn't all of a sudden become pro-Republican. They just didn't come out in the same numbers.



This means 2012 might be better than we're all thinking right now, since the young and the minorities come out in larger numbers during Presidential elections.

[stray cat]

1. Many on du did

[Gin]

3. after 8 years of bush...they stayed home rather than vote for

McCain or Obama....this year they voted again. (IMO)

[Jennicut]

2. The youth never ever vote in midterms like they do in the General elections.

And the older voters dominated. The youth vote was 11% compared to 23% of those 65 and older. In 2008 it was 18% youth vote compared to 16% 65 and over.
What is a problem is that lack of enthusiasm hurts Dems. We need to know why the lack of enthusiasm happened.

[babylonsister]

4. I think the importance of the midterms really needs to be

emphasized, starting now. I admit I don't recall voting in many midterms in my 20s either. Maybe people mistakenly think it's not that important, though if they're paying attention, they'll see this 'shellacking'.

[Jennicut]

8. I voted in the 2006 midterms, which was my first. I was 30. I am sorry I didn't

pay attention before but the birth of my daughter made me more aware politically in all aspects. I voted for Clinton and Gore and Kerry but midterms was not on my radar screen at all. I wish I had voted in 98 and 2002 but at 22 and 26 I was just not that aware yet that these elections had deep meaning. In 2004, I found DU. Kerry lost, my first daughter was born and I was aware. I am not sure what the answer is with the 18 to 28 year olds. 28 to 34 there is certainly a chance to get them more involved. I am 34 now and mature enough to know what matters.

[emulatorloo]

5. There was a ballot initiative here that affected young voters.

Most young people were against it, yet they didn't turn out to vote against it.

[joshcryer]

6. Pretty much. The left didn't vote. Almost entirely because the media said they shouldn't.

[Duchess]

7. Who's the real fool...

The fools who said the shouldn't vote or the fools who listened.

Actually, I don't think you can really blame the media on this.

A lot of people who voted in 2008 voted for the same reason they wore slap bracelets in 2nd grade. They didn't vote this time for the same reason they stopped wearing slap bracelets in 3rd grade...it wasn't the cool thing anymore...voting is so 2008. Get with the times.

[jgraz]

11. Do you have any actual support for this assertion?

Or did you just make it up?

[joshcryer]

16. Exit polls.

Look at the numbers.

[jgraz]

17. I did. They say nothing of the kind.

Care to link to anything to back up your up-is-down, black-is-white claim?

[krawhitham]

9. more old white people

[Cognitive_Resonance]

10. Mid-terms are tough. Dem favorable voter trends return for the 2012 presidential cycle. In 2014,

the midterm elections of Pres. Obama's second term, demographics will continue to improve for Democrats. Four more years worth of Baby Boomer move into that 65+ category, and more of that pre-Baby Boomer generation goes to their reward.

edit: got the years correct

[DrToast]

12. Yes and No

The changing electorate was a big part of the story, but we're only slightly ahead even if you look at registered voters instead of likely voters.

[David Zephyr]

13. Fascinating graph.

And your point is also mine in another thread.

We are the Party of the People. We have the numbers. They will be annihilated in 2012 because the turn out will drive them back even more.

They "won" their seats by the skin of the teeth.

[Avalux]

14. Do you know what that graph tells me?

The only demographics the Repukes GAINED in were whites and over 65. They are a DYING party and despite the victories yesterday and those on DU lamenting that this country is right wing - it isn't. Change is coming, it may not be for another 20 years, but it's coming. The Repukes know it, that's why they're so damned desperate and scared.

[GeorgeGist]

Well, actually they became older and whiter.

[GeorgeGist]

15. Well, actually they became older and whiter.