The Old Guy Gets the Youngins
If you pay attention to the media CW these days, you’ll know that coming out of Iowa, the most likely match up is between the Democrat who finished first by a large margin, and the Republican who finished fourth. Assuming for a moment that McCain is the prohibitive favorite, one of the emerging dynamics in a potential Obama/McCain race would be the age factor. While when you just look at the two candidates, it seems clear who can best evoke change and youthful energy, it’s worth remembering that before McCain transformed himself into a GOP-base panderer, he was very popular among young people. He has appeared on the Daily Show several times and is one of Jon Stewart’s favorite politicians. In his “maverick” days, he always polled well among young people, and in the New Hampshire primary in 2000, he absolutely cleaned the floor with the youth vote. Add on the fact that much of the media seems convinced McCain is a bold truth-teller and change-agent, and the competition for youth energy might be pretty even. If the GOP were to nominate any other candidate besides McCain, all of those who want “change” in the political process would definitely go for Obama.
