The End Of The GOP Is In Our Future

The Republican party took a huge hit in last year's election, losing their majority status in both Houses of Congress. What's scarier for them is that last year's results may just be the beginning of what is to come in future elections. Democracy Corps latest poll has found some exciting results.

From Democracy Corps (pdf file warning):

A major, multi-mode survey of America’s young people recently conducted by Democracy Corps shows young people profoundly alienated from the Republican Party and poised to deliver a significant majority to the Democratic nominee for President in 2008.1

The political stakes with this generation could not be higher. In 2008, young people (ages 18-31) will number 50 million, bigger than the baby boom generation. By 2015 they will likely comprise one-third of the U.S. electorate. While participation among young people still lags well behind other generations, turnout increased two election cycles in a row and, in 2004, jumped nine points (to 49 percent).2 In 2004, younger voters were the only generational cohort outside of the World War II generation to support John Kerry (56 percent). In 2006, younger voters supported Democrats by a 60 – 38 percent margin, the highest of any generation.3

The looming disaster Republicans face among younger voters represents a setback that could haunt them for many generations to come. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama lead Rudy Giuliani—the most acceptable of the Republican offerings among youth—by significant margins, assembling a diverse coalition of support and leading the vote among independents.4 Exploring attitudes toward the parties themselves, young voters’ reaction to fundamental issues and their perceptions of the GOP suggest a fundamental alienation from the Republican Party, a crisis that will not leave with the Bush administration.

Younger voters have sided with Democrats in the past, but the data that is out there shows that their electoral decisions and party preferences now will hang on for quite some time. The Republicans have shown the nation how much they care about the nation's future by increasing our national debt and slashing programs that help young people succeed, such as low-interest college loans and ignoring the soaring costs of tuition throughout the country. Now as young people begin to vote, they are giving Republicans what they deserve, to be kicked out of office.