WASHINGTON – Republicans don’t have a defined national strategy for winning young voters in this fall’s midterm elections, in sharp contrast to Democrats who are throwing $50 million at the effort.
“It’s a grassroots season and grassroots will win the midterms,” said Michael Gibble, president of the Montgomery County Young Republicans. “A mass national movement won’t be effective.”
While the Democrats unveiled their “Vote 2010” website and massive organizational strategy last month, Republicans seem content to stick with national grassroots movements such as the Tea Party and rely on local groups like the Montgomery County Young Republicans to drum up support.
According to futuremajority.com, if the 2008 presidential election was decided by 18-29 year-olds, President Barack Obama would’ve won 455 out of 538 electoral votes. The overwhelming majority of youth voters casting a ballot for the Democratic candidate would seem to indicate that is should be the Republicans with the $50 million plan. However, Jared Fuller, founder and executive director of Year of the Youth, thinks otherwise.
“The Democrats are fighting a losing battle,” Fuller said. “The [$50 million] is just to counter the Republican groundswell. Will it be effective? It might help them keep their majority, but that’s it.”
A little more than a week ago, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., spoke at the Young Republican Leadership Conference and preached that this year’s midterm election was an opportunity waiting to be seized.
“You guys may be young Republicans. But even if you’ve only followed politics for the past year and a half you’ve already learned some important lessons that I hope you’ll carry with you for a lifetime: You now know what happens when Democrats are in charge… And you now know what a difference a year and a half can make,” McConnell said.
What a difference a year and a half can indeed make. After taking over both the House and Senate 18 months ago, Democrats appear to be in danger of losing their majority. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs noted as much 10 days ago when asked if the Republicans could win the House, “There’s no doubt.”
Gibble also agrees that the timing is right for the Republicans to make a splash.
“Support has diminished for the Democrats,” Gibble said. “The energy and promise from 2008 is absolutely not there. Unfortunately for them, a lot of the young voters are seeing that the Democrats can’t remotely follow up on campaign promises.”
The Republican National Committee did not return calls and emails for this story.
David Mills, executive director of the Virginia Young Democrats, thinks that the $50 million plan is working to attract young voters. Hedoesn’t see a lack of an organizational effort on the part of the Republicans as something to be alarmed about yet.
“In every instance [Democrats] are benefiting,” Mills said. “We’re seeing a lot of energy on the ground. The party has seen upticks in everything from Facebook to Twitter…[as far as Republicans], it’s early. It’s tough to say. In Virginia, Republican activists usually wait till later [in the election cycle]. If there isn’t something by Labor Day, I’d be surprised.”
McConnell pointed to new Republican governors in New Jersey and Virginia and a GOP senator in Massachusetts as evidence that the time is ripe for a resurgence.
“As it turns out, when your entire pitch to the American people is that government will solve your problems, people get upset when government can’t deliver,” McConnell said. “It’s why Republicans are on a comeback”
It’s a comeback that will be two years in the making.. The only question that needs answering is who’s strategy will prevail on Election Day: The Democrats and their $50 million plan or the Republicans and their grassroots approach?