HOW’S THAT HOPEY-CHANGEY STUFF WORKIN’ OUT FOR YA? (CONT’D): Younger voter unemployment at 12.1%, threatens Obama.
President Obama’s 2008 political wizardry in inspiring younger voters to storm the voting polls for his change message has hit the brick wall of persistent unemployment and threatens to drain their enthusiasm for his reelection.
According to federal statistics, the unemployment rate of 18-29 year olds reached 12.1 percent in May and when those who have given up looking for work are added in, the rate skyrockets to 16.9 percent. The national unemployment rate for all Americans is 8.2 percent.
And among the very young, 16-19 year olds, unemployment is 20.6 percent. And among African Americans in that age group the rate is 40.6 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a major hurdle to the reelection campaign’s bid to to energize young blacks turning 18 by Election Day.
A recent Harvard University poll showed Obama beating Mitt Romney among younger voters, but they lacked the passion of 2008, in part because they can’t find jobs. And among the largest group of younger voters, white millennials, Obama and Romney are nearly tied at 37 to 34 percent. Obama won that group handily by 10 percent in 2008.
It is just the latest core Democratic base group that has been hit by unemployment, resulting in some voter apathy.
Do tell.