Why does Barack Obama seem to possess a growing popularity with the younger generation ?

Quoting Wikipedia: "Supporters and critics have likened Obama's popular image to a cultural Rorschach test, a neutral persona on which people can project their personal histories and aspirations. Obama's own self-narrative reinforces what a May 2004 New Yorker magazine article described as his "everyman" image".." Do you agree with this statement, and whether it may be a factor to the seemingly growing popularity of Obama, despite all the controversies that loam around him ? Looking at it with an objective mind, it seems to me that many factors may contribute to this phenomenon, including the current events suffered by the current administration, the apparently revolutionary tone that Obama employs in his speeches, and maybe even the Internet as a new key player to the whole election campaigning process. Regardless of my own political choice for 2008, or yours, I believe we can agree that this is indeed a phenomenon to be studied. What's your thoughts ? Thank you in advance!

Public Comments

1. They seem to think he's hip. All the other viable candidates are either way to freaking old or too religious.
2. cuz he has a weird name
3. Cause all the young kids think it'd be funny for a little black guy named Obama to be president. Almost as funny as a woman in command. haha...
4. I do not know that he is gaining popularity with any specific age group, or even if he IS gaining popularity. The news media, which is 70 to 80% liberal oriented has a lot to do with any ones popularity. Also, take into consideration that he is almost an unheard of candidate, similar to Bill Clinton or Jimmie Carter before they ran for president. Since they both won, I suppose the Democrats are pushing Obama on that premise. That is my opinion, based on gut feeling and 70 plus years of living. You are welcome.
5. people are looking for a fresh point of view and he certainly is that.but just giving 1 really inspiring speech does not mean he is any better qualified than any other candidate.i actually would love to see on the democratic ticket hilary clinton as president and her running mate to be the rev. jesse jackson .i beleive they have the know how and experience to be a good choice in the next election.obama is a very likable person but is not the answer this time.good luck.
6. Because he himself is rather young (well for a politician) and perhaps they feel that he will understand them more and be less likely to stereotype and judge young people (which is more than I can say for the majority of the people who've answered your question). Young people are more likely to try new things and be open to new ways of doing things. While older people may want to go back to the lily white "good ol' days" of old white male politicians, young people are more likely to give other types of people a chance.
7. he is young and good looking and doesn't carry a lot of baggage. since he hasn't done anything politically no one can say "look, he supported the war!" or whatever. he has taken cocaine though, which might turn off some people. most consider taking cocaine to be a sign of someone with bad judgment.
8. He is charismatic, looks young, is good looking and the younger generation doesn't have the baggage of bigotry some older folks have.
9. He's not from the old standard mold like all the others who vie for the office . He's a bright new -comer without a pompous political last name ( Clinton , Bush , Kennedy ....etc etc ) . He may get all young people interested in politics because of his charisma . Also , he has huffed a dube .
10. Many people look upon Obama as an outsider. People are tired of what the insiders have been doing. Obama represents new blood - new thought - new ideas, a new opportunity. Out with the old and in with the new. It is as much a vote against the old as a vote for the new.
11. I believe "CHARISMA" is an important factor in determining how popular a politician is. The simple facts show that Barack is good looking, intelligent and has a stunning, successful wife. These factors may help in his popularity. However if he lacks that certain "oommph" factor, he would have never made it big into politics. Barack is, at the end of the day, a charismatic person. That is why he is so popular. He is able to engage our attentions, make us smile and want to hear what he has to offer, whether or not it endorses our own political opinion. Max Weber, the social jurist had stated that charisma is a factor to consider in determining how popular a leader is (if I got his theories right).
12. For the liberals, Barack Obama is a refreshing choice to line up behind. I see him as a logical alternative to Billary for the party to the left. Excuse me, Billary has become a moderate, to reduce her adversaries ability to criticize her policies. Hell, it worked for slick, against Bob Dole ! Unfortunately, the public isn't buying it this time, they are looking for truth in management, and Barack seems to offer this ! The more I see of this man, the easier it is to accept him as a presidential candidate, whereas the more I see of Clinton, the less likely it appears that here candidacy will even make it to the democratic convention with much momentum. I am disturbed over here latest, 'I am women' scam, and her pandering to women. The more she cheapens the race, the better Barack Obama's chances.
13. Obama is a smooth talking, ultra-liberal politician. The younger generation recognizes him for the smart, handsome man that he is. I am of the younger generation, but it does take a lot more than that to sway me and I will openly say that I would never vote for him, mainly because of his liberal/socialist/communist ideals.
14. Barack, the chosen, the blessed. in any language , the man exudes a pleasant aura. Neither authoritarian, nor condescending, he presents an accessible platform for the average dissatisfaction. His physical appeal rests in the fact that he is a cross-pollinated hybrid of the times. Young and strong, healthy and yes, intelligent, neither dark nor pale, a family man with little personal or political encumbrances. That is of serious importance to a weary public laden with aggressive politics and disastrous foreign relations on the outside, and failing health care and struggling immigration issues on the inside. All candidates know how to use the internet as much as the master spinners in the administration; Obama's success resides in the people's need for a new menu on this old wobbly table. Are we ready to commit?
15. He does appeal to many young voters. My son, a junior in college at SIU, has mentioned the talk about him on campus. Obama's fresh and doesn't really have any political baggage, he's young and he's an idealist who knows how to work a room and speak to a crowd. He seems, on the surface, more honest and open than any other politician out there. Since most college kids and young people are idealists that haven't had the experience to be as cynical as some of us old farts, he really stands out to them. But, when the young support a candidate so strongly, the question always ends up being whether they can be counted on to actually get off their duffs and vote. Their poll numbers always look strong, but their actual voting numbers rarely match. I don't know if he can survive the rigors of what has become our brutal Presidential campaign trail and the challenge of the debates. If he can survive them intact, and maintain his aura of being above all that nonsense, he might take the nomination. But that's a lot of ifs. I have a feeling that Hillary will take the nomination and Obama will be approached for VP, which he would be silly to turn down.
16. The Internet is definitely a strong part of the whole hype around Obama. For example check out his sole question recently posted on the Yahoo Answers which you'd find it picking up answers and stars at a much higher rate than the 3 questions posted by Hillary. Look up his fan base on his profile, again exceeds that of Hillary and notably are mostly young people. If you roam the internet looking for similar appearances by him you'd see quite similar reactions. Also somehow the youth seem to relate him to the whole sentiment idea of the week and small standing against the big, strong and corrupt, as portrayed by the modified version of the infamous 1984 macintosh ad; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h3G-lMZxjo , watched so far by more than 3 million viewers, most of which are probably of the younger generation. If we say at least 10 -15 % of those who watched this ad may have been slightly moved by it to Obama's side then u can imagine how many young people have the internet unintentionally contributed in lobbying for him. A lesson that surely his opponents and future presidential nominees should find to be very interesting.
17. You know is is a phenomenon when a former druggie or possibly a present druggie who has the gall to brag in a book about his drug habits and also a man who votes to deny survivors of abortion health coverage can be seen as anything other than trash
18. No, people in my school don't care for him. My brother is 21 and he doesn't like Obama and I'm 18 and I don't like Obama. I see him as an opportunistic man who is politically empty who the media sucks up to. We are going for Hillary and I don't know where those young people live but many of them don't even know what is happening around today or have a clue of Obama's politics. He speaks in platitudes and and never gives a concise answer. Obama hasn't swayed me a bit and the young people where I live aren't interested in him and we live in New Jersey.
19. He is a very good looking mulatto. He has a great smile, and he is very intelligent and charismatic.
20. Barack Obama seem to possess a growing popularity with the younger generation exactly for the same reason the younger generation is fascinated with fart and poop jokes.
21. I think part of his appeal is that he appears to be a straight talker...being in the generation that is the most cynical group of voters, many people in my generation feel like our vote doesn't matter. We see these rich white men who have no clue what it is like to be the average person goes through in a day. If they don't know what we go through what we say means nothing to them. Obama knows what it was like to be the average person. Yes he has money now, but I believe and I could be wrong, but he came up from average. He seems to speak to people on a level that seems personal, not down like most politicans do. Personally I like his politics. I like that he is not yet corrupted by big business and lobbyists. I just hope as his years in politics go on that he can keep those ideals in tact.
22. Certainly Barack Obama is young, good-looking, and articulate. Together these amount to charisma. Obama is neither white nor black, and there's something mystical about his birth in Hawaii. Although he was raised as a Christian and is a practicing Christian today, his background includes Muslim roots. He also has links to both Africa (Kenya, where his mother and father met) and Asia (Indonesia, where he lived and went to school), meaning he's a kind of melting pot all by himself. Today's young people are probably less racist and less nationalistic than any earlier generation. They feel comfortable eating Mexican food, using a Korean computer, and driving a Japanese car. They listen to music from Latin America and watch cartoons made in Japan. Add this to the fact that Obama is right on many of the issues--such as Iraq--that are most important to young people, and it should not be a surprise that he is popular with this segment of the population.