Posted on 01/31/2012 12:00:06 PM PST by presidio9
The first primaries of 2012 are complete, but the fight over the proper role of government continues. The question before GOP primary voters is who best reflects their own answer to that question, and then, who is best suited to make that case to the American people?
A clear winner has yet to emerge, but there is little question about who has captured the loyalty of young Republican voters on this issue. Although finishing fourth overall, Ron Paul once again won the youth vote in South Carolina, winning 31% of ages 18-29, compared to Newt Gingrich who won 28%. Paul’s appeal, or more accurately, the appeal of Paul’s limited government message, is a key story to emerge from the Republican primaries.
There’s no mistaking the trend.
Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire primary, getting approximately 39% of the total vote. Ron Paul finished second with 23%, Jon Huntsman finished third with 17%, and Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum each won about 9% of the vote.
Yet young voters would have picked a different winner. According to Fox News exit polls, in New Hampshire, Paul won nearly half (46%) of the votes of people ages 18-29, while Romney won second place with just 26%.
Paul also won the youth vote in Iowa. In the Hawkeye State almost half (48%) of the Republican caucus goers ages 18-29 supported Paul, compared to 23% for the otherwise victorious Santorum, and 14% for Romney.
What is so appealing about Paul to young voters? One answer is that Paul has been the most outspoken candidate defending the importance of free enterprise and the limited role of government. And he has had a
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I talk to younger friend of mine he claim that Ron Paul speak to young people I think he is Ross Perot of millium generation
What's not to like for a young person?
I’m not entirely unsympathetic. Four years of Barack Obama might make me want to hide behind some bong smoke too.
Ron Paul is appealing to green (in the sense of immature) idealists who don’t appreciate that a politician with a huge hole in his policies is just not the person to put in the Oval Office even if he made it to Congress.
You. Nailed. It!
NAILED IT!
Yep. That's the appeal. Sadly.
They like his hippie live and let live anti-war message.
I know of many younger folks who are drawn to him for that reason.
Personally, I think he’s a kook.
Very , very simple. Legalization of drugs. That puts him in their peer group.
Yep, weed.
Of course, his foreign policy lunacy will have the bad guys killing us all and taking the weed.
But logic and forethought are not traits of Paultards.
Ganja.
One word.
Doobie.
Come on, it’s because he’s anti-establishment. Young people tend to be more rebellious by nature.
The same things that make them participate in the OWS camp outs. Anything weird or "edgy" is great by them.
And they believe he will legalize certain controlled substances...duh!
1 - Drug legalization
2 - No troop deployment to foreign countries.
Paul will still be in the race the day after Gingrich drops out and endorses Romney.
Paul will still be in the race the day after Gingrich drops out and endorses Romney.
He is the anti-candidate. He is this generation’s version of the anti-establishment.
It could be worse...in my day the anti-establishment consisted of the dems inside the beltway. Outside the beltway: Bill Ayers, Jane Fonda, Tom Hayden, and all of their cohorts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.