Posted on 03/08/2005 7:29:02 PM PST by martin_fierro
Fewer young people likely to vote in election than for reality TV shows
Mon Mar 7,12:33 PM ET
LONDON (AFP) - Fewer young people are likely to vote at the general election expected in May than have already voted in reality television shows, according to a survey.
Fewer than 42 percent of first-time voters think they will vote for a political party, yet 46 percent have already voted for contestants in shows such as "Big Brother" and "Pop Idol," said the YouGov poll.
The 18 to 24-year-olds, who account for nearly one out of every ten voters, are more turned off by politicians than previous generations, according to the YouGov poll published in The Daily Telegraph on Monday.
Some 48 percent said they had no idea who would make the best prime minister, with only 21 percent backing Labour Party Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites), it said.
Some 74 percent expressed interest in public affairs, but only 42 percent were interested in party politics, it said.
In contrast to eight years ago when Blair became prime minister, about half of the 18-24 age group who voted said they had backed Labour.
The survey was conducted on March 3-4 on 776 people aged between 18 and 24 years old.
Ping, you lot.
This helps the tories greatly. The Conservatives have a good chance of finally knocking Labour off. Mark my words, this will be one of the greatest electoral upsets in English history.
I dunno.
Michael Howard?
He hasn't got Blairs charisma, that's for sure. And I honestly think that his policies are quite what conservatives require.
The schism in the UKIP - with Kilroy-Silk setting up his 'Veritas' party has also split opinion.
I believe that after eight years of Blair, the English are starting to tire of his charisma.
Howard's turned this election on three main issues,
1) Immigration
2) Crime
3) Goverment spending and taxes.
The Labour government has been trying to adopt Tory policies in the last few weeks as they read their internal polling--which look horrible.
Young people, a huge Labour constituency, are turned off by Blair and will likely stay home.
Elderly and rural people are being carefully targeted by Howard and the Tories using "the voter vault" and the systems that Rove et al used in 2004. Finally, the Tory campaign is being managed by an Aussie who led the Howard campaign in Australia.
Well the fact that the Bush Administration dislike Howard will probably endear him to the liberals.
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