The Senior Wave: Older Voters Set for Historic Turnout

Real Clear Politics ^ | October 18, 2010 | David Paul Kuhn

[no dems]

It's change grandma and grandpa believe in. Seniors are poised to vote at historic levels on Election Day. And it's bad news for Democrats. They support Republicans more than any other age group.

Republicans are more likely to vote at every age this year. But it's older Republican voters--including GOP-leaning independents--who could create a generational tide.

Young adults are not less likely to vote. Older adults are remarkably likely. Seniors and baby boomers are more engaged in the election and more enthusiastic about voting than pre-election polling has found since at least 1994...

The trend is strongest among voters age 65 and older. Eighty-four percent of seniors who are registered to vote say they will "definitely" vote. That's 9 percentage points above the previous record, 1994, when the question was first asked. Six in 10 seniors have given the election "a lot" of thought, also a peak. High enthusiasm and engagement generally signal high turnout.

Friday, Social Security beneficiaries found out they will see no increase in their benefit checks. Benefits traditionally rise with inflation. But 58 million seniors' found out it wont next year, like the year prior. That will not warm them to the party in power.

Democrats have either reconciled with, or missed, this senior moment.

[Logic n' Reason]

"This year, the future might belong to the old."

Kind of "oxymoronic", no??

And...since when is being 60 to 66 years of age considered "old"???

Hell, my 24 year old girlfriend, my 28 year old mistress, and my 29 year old wife sure don't think so....at least not any more!!!

Heh, heh, heh!!!

[sodpoodle]

No, suburbs.

I think it has to do with being widowed, getting old, feeling helpless and not wanting to pay any more income tax, ss & Medicare contributions/premiums, sales tax, property tax etc., for schools they no longer use, cars they no longer drive and medical care they don’t yet need.

[Padams]

I don’t think she will vote at all this year, which is an improvement over voting Dem. She didn’t vote in the primary and runoff here this past summer because she is “so sickened by how Obama turned out.”

[capt. norm]

I think that the fact that most are losing their Social Security Supplemental insurance programs is not sitting well with them either.

I was recently informed that my insurance plan would no longer exist at the end of the year...same with friends my age (68).

[tnlibertarian]

You should double-tap twice

Wait, is that four taps? Plus the one to the head? I'm not 18 anymore.

[workerbee]

Quite frankly, this is a perfect example of why we simply cannot allow the entitlement of “national health care” to take hold. Once a group starts seeing (and believing, true or not) that they’re getting something they “deserve” at others’ expense, there will be no stopping it.

Those GOPers poised to take over the House had better come in with fire in their belly and blood in the eyes ready to defund, unfund or whatever needs doing to destroy the monster, NOW.

[longtermmemmory]

I know too many senile voting senions who will yell and scream about the idiots but sill vote vote all D. Some would even say “yes I voted for Reagan, after all he was a democrat when he ran for president.”