Will young Paul, Huckabee backers stay with GOP?
By KATHRYN GRIM
Associated Press
August 21, 2008
Page 2 of 2
A greater but still small percentage of those interested in Paul remained involved in political Web sites, according to Compete.com. In June, 18 percent of visitors to Paul's site before McCain's nomination read at least one major conservative blog and 22 percent read at least one major liberal blog. Six percent went to McCain and 8 percent to Obama.
Another indication of whether young Republicans are as engaged in the election now many be seen in measures of interest among voters between 18 and 34 years old reflected in an NBC News/Wall Street Journal Hart-Newhouse Poll in mid-July. A majority of young Obama supporters, 53 percent, rated their enthusiasm for the campaign at the highest level, 10, while only 48 percent of young McCain supporters said they were as excited.
Among young voters with the most enthusiasm about the election, 59 support Obama and 30 percent support McCain.
Shjegstad said she does not feel the same desire to rally support for McCain.
"McCain will get my vote," she said. "But if he puts Huckabee on the ticket, he gets my money and he gets my physical labor."
Betty Wolf, 28, of Cleveland, said she decided to contribute to Paul because of unfair media coverage and the disrespect other candidates showed him during debates.
"If you're willing to laugh at a candidate onstage, that's a really deep personal affront," she said. "That's what really made me say, 'I'm going to open up my wallet and I'm going to give to this guy, because no one laughs at money.'"
Although Wolf is a registered Republican, she said she probably will not vote for McCain and is "definitely giving the Libertarian Party a look."
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