Biden must appeal to young adult voting bloc
As a college lecturer, I know that only a few institutions of higher learning have been roiled by demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war. Certainly, several elite colleges and universities have been disrupted by loud protests, encampments and disheartening displays of antisemitism. But despite the pronouncements of conservative politicians, those hardly represent colleges across the land, including the Deep South university where I teach.
Are many young adults angry about the disproportionate response that Israel has levied against Gaza in its hunt for Hamas terrorists? Absolutely. And their anger is appropriate
(if not always appropriately expressed). But, according to a new poll from Harvard University's Kennedy School Institute of Politics, younger adults are more upset about conditions in this country than a war abroad. Only 9% believe the country is “generally headed in the right direction.”
Despite that, the survey holds good news for the reelection bid of President Joe Biden — and, therefore, for American democracy. The poll shows Biden leading his rival, former President Donald Trump, by 8 percentage points among 18- to 29-yearolds. In earlier polls, Trump was ahead of Biden among that voting bloc, a confusing finding as Trump represents the policies and positions that many younger Americans oppose.
But if younger Americans are coming around, Biden still has cause for concern: Polls consistently show that group lacking enthusiasm for either candidate. With a race likely to be decided, once again, by a razor-thin margin, Biden and his campaign team must ensure that young adults vote in November.
Since the Harvard poll showed that most young voters favor a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Biden can start by reminding them that his position on the Israel-Hamas conflict is more humane than Trump's. While Biden rushed to show his support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the savage terrorist attack of Oct. 7, the president has since tried to caution Netanyahu against the disproportionate brutality his forces have used — a response that has resulted in the deaths of more than 30,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians.
Trump, meanwhile, simply wants Netanyahu to hurry up with his war because he's losing international support. The Republican Party remains reflexively supportive of Israel, with its most reactionary members hostile to Palestinians. In a March town hall meeting with constituents, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) urged Israel toward more brutality in Gaza. “We shouldn't be spending a dime on humanitarian aid,” he said. “It should be like Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Get it over quick.”
Biden should also continue to showcase his support for reproductive rights — a position that has wide appeal but is especially important among younger voters. Fifty-eight percent of young women and 42% of young men pointed to the issue as very important. That helps explain why so many conservative Republicans are trying to back away from their previous positions of vigorous support for anti-abortion initiatives.
Given the constant drumbeat from conservatives about an “invasion” of migrants at the southern border, it's no great surprise that so many young adults believe there is a crisis there. Biden might point out that Republicans tanked a bill that would have cracked down on illegal immigration because Trump told them to. At any rate, young adults don't generally harbor the reflexive xenophobia that radiates through the right-wing.
It's probably no surprise that younger Americans, like older groups, view inflation as the major problem facing the nation. While many struggle with exorbitant student debt, they all face staggering costs for housing. That's why so many younger Americans still live with their parents.
But many were living with their parents during the Trump era, too. The former president's tenure benefitted the wealthy, a contrast with Biden's policies that focus on less affluent Americans. The Biden campaign should play the contrast on auto-repeat.
If young adults believe the country is headed in the wrong direction now, a second Trump presidency would show them just how wrong things can get. The former president will prosecute his critics, abandon the rules-based international order and, once again, cozy up to the rich and powerful. Reactionary Republicans would have a free hand to oppress people of color, immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community. Voters of all ages need to be reminded of that.