Today’s New York Times features a debate between students on why support for President Obama has fallen among college students, and whether he can regain their loyalty. According to Lauren Bouton, a senior at the University of Arizona and president of the College Republicans, that depends on what the Republican nominee does:
As for what Obama can do to win back his supporters, I believe this depends largely on the Republican candidate. This election will be about mobilizing the Republican base and the independent voters. If they do not supply a candidate who appeals to these groups, I believe that Obama has a great chance of winning a second term in the White House.
If the Republican candidate happens to incite anger from college students on issues that hit closer to home for them, like gay marriage or even the legalization of marijuana, Obama can recapture their attention.
Wesley Lowery, a senior at Ohio University and representative of the National Association of Black Journalists, thinks the youth vote is still Obama’s to lose:
Three years of only partially realized promises has depressed Obama’s once vibrant and vocal throngs of zealous young supporters. But fortunately for Obama, none of the Republican hopefuls have exhibited the energy, organization or moderate stances necessary to attract young voters, who hold largely independent leanings. The young masses remain Obama’s to win or lose, with the primary challenge lying in mobilizing an otherwise disengaged demographic.
Of course, that prognosis might be discounting the youth support of one particular GOP candidate.
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