As some of you may know Scholastic has a youth voting drive every presidential election. The results tend to be VERY accurate as to who will be the victor. They have been conducting this poll since 1940 and have only failed to choose the winner twice, once being Harry Truman (1948) and the other being John Kennedy (1960). Ages of the voters range from eight to thirteen
So who won this year?
Why none other than Barack Obama getting 57% of the vote, John McCain getting 39% of the vote and the prestigious Other getting 4%. I saw the story this morning on MSNBC and Scholastic's website has yet to update with the overall results. MSNBC is also reporting the following data from swing states:
Here is a look at how students voted for McCain and Obama in key swing states:
* Colorado: McCain, 61 percent; Obama, 36 percent
* Florida: McCain, 41 percent; Obama, 55 percent
* Indiana: McCain, 51 percent; Obama, 47 percent
* Iowa: McCain, 48 percent; Obama, 49 percent
* Michigan: McCain, 40 percent; Obama, 57 percent
* Missouri: McCain, 49 percent; Obama, 47 percent
* Ohio: McCain, 47 percent; Obama, 51 percent
* Pennsylvania: McCain, 46 percent; Obama, 50 percent
I'm reminded of the Late Tim Russert who used to put Luke in front of the tv and ask him who did better and who made more sense. Kids do seem to have an instinct for who has done a better job explaining or appealing to voters. There is also the idea that kids will be influenced by their parents and will vote accordingly.
Though MSNBC did report the results this morning, I doubt we see much from the media that still will not let go of "the close horse race" meme. Though maybe they will cherry pick the Colorado result and talk about some McMentum.