Politics

Poll: College Campus Obamania ‘Is Gone’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obamamania that gripped college campuses two years ago is gone.

An Associated Press-mtvU poll found college students cooling in their support for President Barack Obama, a fresh sign of trouble for Democrats struggling to rekindle enthusiasm among many of these newest voters for the crucial midterm elections in three weeks.

Forty-four percent of students approve of the job Obama is doing as president, while 27 percent are unhappy with his stewardship, according to the survey conducted late last month. That’s a significant drop from the 60 percent who gave the president high marks in a May 2009 poll. Only 15 percent had a negative opinion back then.

It’s not just students. Obama’s support from many groups has ebbed since his early months in office because of persistently high unemployment and opposition to his plans to revive the economy and overhaul the health care system. But his diminished backing from college students raises further questions about whether the Democrats’ efforts to rally them — and other loyal supporters such as blacks and union members — will be enough to prevent Republicans from winning control of Congress in the Nov. 2 elections.

Obama‘s weaker performance on campus also underscores his party’s struggles to turn the 15 million first-time voters of 2008 — nearly one in eight of that year’s total — into a solid political army. Exit polls from 2008 show 55 percent of new voters were age 18 to 24, and those young first-timers strongly backed Obama and Democratic House candidates — a potent bloc if Democrats could lure them back to the voting booth.

Hoping to rekindle campus enthusiasm, Obama planned to appear Thursday at a youth town hall being shown live on MTV, BET and other networks. He also is to lead a rally Sunday at Ohio State University, and in recent days he headlined a massive gathering at the University of Wisconsin and a webcast town hall at George Washington University.

Ohio State’s 55,000 students are a big part of a central Ohio congressional district in which Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy is facing a rematch with her 2008 opponent, Republican Steve Stivers. Kilroy spokesman Brad Bauman says the students are “a huge voting bloc for us,” but Stivers spokesman John Damschroder says any advantage Kilroy had on campus in the close 2008 race will be minimized.

“She had a wind at her back last time,” he said, referring to students’ support then for Obama. “Now it’s a stand-alone election for her.”

Political scientists, campaign workers, students and others say many students are unhappy with Obama’s handling of the economy, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and failures to end the ban against gays serving openly in the military or to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. There’s also frustration with the messy political process and his inability to deliver on his campaign promise to change Washington.

“People expect things to happen quickly,” said Elizabeth Wright, a senior at the University of Colorado. “I don’t think people understand it takes time.”

The findings in the AP-mtvU poll, which surveyed more than 2,000 undergraduates age 18 to 24, come as students and others say political activity on campuses is way down from the frenetic levels of the 2008 presidential race. Josh Rohrer, a senior at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., says it was impossible to walk to class two years ago without seeing campaign fliers, T-shirts and tables strewn with candidates’ brochures.

“Now, if you don’t read a newspaper, you wouldn‘t know there’s about to be an election,” he said.

Even so, college Republicans and Democrats are still registering students and helping them vote with absentee ballots if needed. Republicans aired a TV ad in college towns in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida called “The Breakup,” showing young people expressing disillusionment with Obama. Democrats say they’ve made nearly 2 million phone calls and visits to young voters since late May.

Enthusiasm by all groups dips in midterm elections compared to presidential races. The drop-off is compounded for college students, who can be distracted by everything from classes to football and often aren‘t registered to vote in their school’s congressional district.

“It sort of falls under the radar,” said Rebecca Leber, a senior from the University of Rochester.

In the AP-mtvU poll, white students are about evenly divided over Obama — 34 percent approve of his performance while 37 percent disapprove. In May 2009, they approved by 53 percent to 21 percent. The drop is consistent with his decreased popularity among all whites.

Minority students are positive by 58 percent to 13 percent margin, slightly worse than in May 2009. In both polls, about a quarter overall were neutral.

Heather Smith, president of Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan group that encourages young people to vote, said it has registered 225,000 young voters for this year’s election, more than four times as many as in the last midterm in 2006. But she says the political parties aren’t spending enough to energize students, and she predicted turnout would resemble 2006, a mediocre year.

“It’s a cycle of neglect,” she said.

To combat that, entertainer Jay-Z has made a TV ad for HeadCount, a group of musicians and others who register young people to vote, in which he says, “Fight for what you believe in.”

AP-GfK polls show Obama remains more popular among younger than older voters, but more older people express interest in the congressional elections. A September survey by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that among people under 30, those favoring Republicans are likelier than Democratic supporters to say they’ve thought a lot about the election.

The AP-mtvU Poll was conducted Sept. 20-24 by Edison Research of Somerville, N.J., and involved interviews with 2,207 randomly chosen undergraduates at 40 randomly selected four-year schools with at least 1,000 undergrads. To protect privacy, the schools were not being identified and students’ names were not recorded. The survey had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The sponsorship by mtvU, an MTV channel for college students, is related to its “Half of Us” program, which it runs with the Jed Foundation for publicizing students’ mental health issues.

___

AP Polling Director Trevor Tompson, Deputy Polling Director Jennifer Agiesta and News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.

___

Online:

AP polls: http://surveys.ap.org

Comments (93)

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  • charles48
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:33pm

    the young people who voted for this guy got the proverbial shaft not everything in progressive land is rainbows and lollipops how could that be atleat they know now (well alot of them anyways)

    Report Post »  
  • HippoNips
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:29pm

    44 percent approval? Thats seems about right.

    Report Post »  
  • BillBro
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:21pm

    The article confirms reports from our college-age children. Like most fads, this one has also passed. It’s not so much a matter of students having become disenchanted. Rather, like most things in pop culture, the craze of the moment has simply faded from campus consciousness.

    Report Post » BillBro  
  • AmandaRose
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:19pm

    You wouldn’t think this was true on my campus. A vast majority of the students here still worship the ground O walks on.

    But the scary thing is that it seems like the reason why the youth is becoming turned off about Obama is that he isn’t left enough for them, which is even more frightening than if they were still supporting him in my opinion. They’re not getting their “change” fast enough. They’re all still for the “hope” and the “change”. It‘s not like they’ve all suddenly had their “come to Jesus” moment.

    Report Post »  
    • GnomeChomsky
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:51pm

      Amanda, I tend to agree with you. You guys need to realize that just because you disapprove of the job someones doing doesn’t mean they lost your vote. Much of Obama’s decline in approval is not because of a rise in your ranks, as much as your ego would like to think, but is instead fueled by frustrated and impatient supporters who are still waiting for change not some half assed toothless healthcare bill, the continued status quo of corporate influence, and handouts for the rich.

      Report Post »  
    • M31Sailor
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 7:05pm

      Chompskeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
      Thats Hoax and Chains
      Sailor

      Report Post » M31Sailor  
  • conservativeme
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:16pm

    Those college kids are only good for one shot, eh? That was something the Dems COUNTED ON!

    Report Post »  
  • JGP
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:13pm

    This story tells you why there’s going to be an MTV appearamce.

    Report Post »  
    • MrButcher
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:16pm

      touche’

      Report Post » MrButcher  
    • felina g
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:18pm

      Does he think he will enlist some of those “trouble-makers” ??

      Report Post »  
    • MattR
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 6:04pm

      Let him keep speaking. He consistently sounds like a whiny little schoolkid. Now he’s crying about the chamber of commerce and whant them to show donors. Gibbs says by the chamber not disclosing donors they must be hiding something. So by this logic Gibbs must be in agreement that Obama is hiding something by not showing his long form birth certtificate. You can’t have it both ways.
      We need to come up with a word like “birthers” to label those that want the chamber to provide a list of donors, not to incite, but to simply point out it is analogous to the birther issue. Maybe then they will understand.

      Report Post »  
    • always watching
      Posted on October 14, 2010 at 1:36am

      MATTR: How about “chamber”-pots?

      Report Post »  
  • Jimmers46
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:13pm

    Anybody ever see a Veteran enlist to fight for: Islam, Socialism, Communism, Liberalism ?????
    Wake Up Young people!!! These are your frredoms too!

    Report Post »  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:31pm

      When my brother went to UCLA and he told me the republicans couldn’t meet on campus because of and I quote “threats”. They are pushing college students to the left at all costs – that’s wrong! Doesn’t matter anyways, those who are disallusioned by this Prez will either stay home and not vote or vote for someone else…either way Obama looses. :)

      Report Post » angrymob  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:47pm

      I mean “threats” were made so they had to meet elsewhere.

      This teaches college students that if they speak out there will be trouble…and what does this accomplish? It silences them. Hopefully, they will get out and vote for a republican candidate this time and not become ampathetic to the whole system.

      Report Post » angrymob  
  • Jamestown
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:13pm

    Add your comments

    Report Post » Jamestown  
    • angrymob
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:41pm

      Contribute to the discussion board…don’t just waste space.

      Report Post » angrymob  
  • Awakenow
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:11pm

    Lesson number one don’t ever take a politicians and most members of the press word for anything. Check the politicians references, Friends, Minister, Supporters and Deeds if all of these pass your value system vote for him, if not spend four years waiting for a chance to correct your mistake!

    Report Post » Awakenow  
  • angrymob
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:08pm

    O-bama! The thrill is gone from the American people’s leg. :)

    Report Post » angrymob  
  • glennrocks
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:08pm

    He wasn’t always perfect, but boy do I miss G W BUSH!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • Awakenow
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:14pm

      I do not believe he ever intentionally lied to anyone, and Obama has never been really honest!

      Report Post » Awakenow  
    • Mary M. Tebbe
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:31pm

      glennrocks: I miss President George Bush too. He was what a President should look and sound like. I’m sorry, but I don’t think we have a president now, because I don’t believe that Obama is anything but an imposter. Studying on line and learning about his fraudulent social security number that belonged to a person born in 1890 just concerns me, and there are so many other things about this man that just make we wonder what the heck happened to our country. I was thinking today about his religion, and I believe that he is a Muslim. He tries to emulate his father in so many ways, and his father was a Muslim. I don’t think that he would be anything else other than a Muslim because of how he felt about his own father. He was so indoctrinated by marxists, communists, and the like when growing up that it is hard to believe otherwise. And the lies just keep coming!
      I’m glad that the college age kids are seeing through the smoke screen, and I have one of those college age kids right now. I hope they are seeing through all the bologna they’ve been fed by the left. They are our future, and we better give them something more to believe in. They actually deserve the same upbringing that we had where it was good to talk about our Christian principles and values, and good to possess good moral character, and where human life is valued and they have hope for a bright future and have the same opportunities that we had as young people to become anything they want to be.

      Report Post » Mary M. Tebbe  
    • Eternal Lucy
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 5:54pm

      Ditto.

      With W, you actually got the sense he cared about people. He’d hug people, he was just more “real.” Down to earth.

      Report Post » Eternal Lucy  
    • Eternal Lucy
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 6:05pm

      And W kept his nose out of other peoples’ business. He was more dignified.

      Obama seems petty.

      Report Post » Eternal Lucy  
    • We Are Not Alone
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 7:18pm

      He wasn’t perfect but you always had the feeling that he loved his country, his family and the military. Laura was such a classy first lady, I miss her too.

      Don’t forget to vote…..

      PS: help California clean house and get rid of all those people who have destroyed that beautiful State.

      Report Post » Want our country back  
  • captquest
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:07pm

    now there’s some HOPE.

    Report Post » captquest  
  • cotuit
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:07pm

    Maybe these children are starting to realize they will be the ones that will have to pay for the Progessive
    agenda. It might be a good idea for parents to explain to these kids how tax and spend will affect them before they vote.
    I know I have.

    Report Post »  
    • starman70
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 7:35pm

      Cotuit:
      Not only are they beginning to realize that they will be tho ones having to pay off the massive national debt, they also realize that many of them will have college loans to pay off as well. These kids can’t even find a summer job in this stnagant economy. The rose colored glasses are coming off and reality is hitting them head on.

      The Washington career politicians are the ones directly responsible for this mess. It’s high time for TERM LIMITS for the Senators and Representatives in Washington.

      Report Post »  
  • AngryTexanFromAmarillo
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:05pm

    Looks like the Kool-Aid is wearing off…These poor kids are waking up and feeling like someone slipped them a roofy they see they have been raped and robbed and they feel “DIRTY” and I have a feeling its going to get crazy before to long.

    Report Post » AngryTexanFromAmarillo  
  • chazman
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:03pm

    Obama was the biggest poison pill our kids ever had to swallow, and I thank God for that. Hopefully they won’t be so naive later on down the road. Socialism / Marxism / Communism is the enemy of freedom. Always has been – always will be … we have a lot of work to do, people!

    Lock and Load, folks …

    Report Post »  
    • DaddyKev
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:35pm

      Imagine if McCain were elected.He’d have similar policies, but not many would have noticed. Better to make it glaringly obvious to everyone with Obama/Pelosi/Reid.

      Report Post » DaddyKev  
  • felina g
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:01pm

    I don`t believe any of the polls or stats anymore. I do know there is a fire burning and seasons are indeed changing.

    Report Post »  
  • BoilitDown
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:59pm

    The left is losing the old college aged mantra, “Truth to Power”. It requires the truth element and the lefties are truth callenged.

    Report Post »  
  • Inuyasha
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:58pm

    Folks are waking up! My best friend of over 20 years, and a die hard liberal, asked me the other day, “Where are the good ole days when we could actually argue over politics, we are beginning to agree on too many things as of late.” Although I miss our arguments of times gone by, I also enjoy watching the truth being realized.

    I am expecting to see pigs with wings flying around town soon, and the devil better learn how to ice skate!

    Report Post » Inuyasha  
  • HillBillySam1
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:56pm

    The youth have found out the Obammy is just another “I’ll say anything to get your vote/ Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!” politician?? Please don’t tell their “professional” perfessors. It woulld break their hearts. The good news is that Chris Mathews still feels that “thrill” running up his leg when our Dear Leader gives a speech blaming everybody else of wrongdoing. He had the whole crew at MSNBC at “Hello….”. I’m a sap for a true love story.

    Report Post »  
  • bulldawg
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:48pm

    History always repeats its self, in the 20s and 30s people believed in Socialism and found out it was nothing but a scheme to steal from the rich to give to the poor, Obama calls it spreading the wealth Margret Thatcher said it works until you run out of other peoples money. Our youth has figured out the college professors were part of the Obama scam. I just hope we can turn this wreck around so they have a future. http://www.weeklyrepublic.com

    Report Post » bulldawg  
  • angrymob
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:45pm

    “It’s not just students. Obama’s support from many groups has ebbed since his early months in office because of persistently high unemployment and opposition to his plans to revive the economy and overhaul the health care system.”

    Thank God…I knew before he was elected he’d be another “Carter”. You know, it‘s odd Dems seem surprised that they aren’t doing well in the polls…but that‘s what you get when you ignore the people’s wishes and steam roll ahead with your own.

    Report Post » angrymob  
  • dirtytricksjusttowin
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:43pm

    Thanks God young, easy prey Americans have awaken. Hope the rest wakes up, though.

    Report Post »  
  • untameable-kate
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:37pm

    Ah sweet bird of youth. Did they finally figure out there aren’t any jobs out there once they graduate? Did someone point out to them that capitalism is not evil but socialism will lead to the eventual decay of our great nation?

    Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • john seven eighteen
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:49pm

      The funny thing is that these youngsters are a big part of the reason Obama won in the first place, but how many of them do you think will care enough to show up and vote on nov 2nd? Almost NONE!! I love it!

      Report Post » john seven eighteen  
    • Jamestown
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:23pm

      Do any of these “STUPIDDOWNED” college students have a working brain cell left that will ask a question to these professors…why didn’t it work teacher
      ….you said it would work teacher why did you lie teacher…who paid you to lie teacher…folks our children don’t have the brains to understand…

      Why did you lie teacher….where’s my career gone to teacher…who is paying your pension teacher…you said it should all be f

      Report Post » Jamestown  
  • CatB
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:34pm

    The younger generation is waking up .. to the truth of Obama … there is hope for them and their futures!

    Report Post »  
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 5:35pm

      It‘s a lesson that people don’t usually learn till they have to get a job… Charm will only last a couple minutes… After that you better know what you are doing..

      It’s overtly obvious that obama is an absolute IDIOT….

      He just hasn‘t been fortunate enough to have anyone around him who isn’t an IDIOT either…

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
  • Prospero
    Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:33pm

    “To protect privacy, the schools were not being identified and students’ names were not recorded.”

    Natch. If strict privacy were not employed, the liberal universities would have retaliated against those who disapprove of Obama. Typical.

    Report Post » Prospero  
    • M31Sailor
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:37pm

      Most of the youth that graduated in the last two years haven’t been able to find a job without employing the words “Fries with that?
      Sailor

      Report Post » M31Sailor  
    • DrammyCoke
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 3:56pm

      It’s gone before I even had a chance to “catch it”. Dangit!!!!!!

      His record is catching up with him.

      Report Post » DrammyCoke  
    • solaveritas
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:00pm

      Kids MUST rebel against their parents (or the establishment). It is a “right of passage”. So, let them get tattoos, nose rings, purple hair, listen to rap music……ANYTHING so they will feel they have “expressed their independence”…..and then can be sensible and embrace Constitutional Conservatism in their politics…..so there is a job waiting for them when they graduate!!!

      Report Post » solaveritas  
    • AmericanPatriot01
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 4:19pm

      Most people Democrats look at these kids like sheep, but, what they don’t realize is that this generation is so much better informed that they know what is goingon and what the dems are doing to the America that they were supposed to inherit.

      Report Post » AmericanPatriot01  
    • Masamune
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 5:08pm

      Since I only recently got out of high school when Obama became president, I understand a lot of what’s going on here. Most of my friends who voted for Obama that‘ve I’ve talked to say that the only reason they actually voted for him was due to the craze and hype surrounding the election. Now most of them, even the liberal ones, are turning against him (I live in Oregon so this really surprised me) not only because they feel lied to, but because Obama‘s so called ’change’ has simply put most of us out of work and made school and jobs even more difficult then they already are.

      Report Post »  
    • ME
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 5:17pm

      @Prospero

      My wife as a adult that just finished collage was amazed at how her grades suffered when she was honest about her thoughts. I had to help her shade her believes and tow the line and she found then that the grades where much better.

      Report Post » ME  
    • snowleopard3200
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 7:04pm

      Notice how the article refers to President Obama as having “Stewardship of our country” or close to that; while he was voted in to care for the country, stewardship does not mean plundering the country of ours into the hands of his uber-elite Progressive-Socialist comrads who wish to rule and plunder this nation and her wealth.

      These students would indeed have been retaliated against severely without protection of their identities; so much for free speech without fear under Obama-run education.

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm (mixed art)

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • starman70
      Posted on October 13, 2010 at 7:20pm

      Americanpatriot01:

      You are absolutely right. The greatest majority of our youth are like sheep. Products of public schools which no longer teach the true history of America, The Constitution and Declaration of Independance and what they mean. College professors who are far left liberals or outright communists. Students are taught to join the crowd and follow along. Critical thought is discouraged and even rewarded with a failing grade.If you don’t agree with the prof. you’re outta here. The free enterprise system which made America the shining jewel of the world is denounced and abased. We seem to have allowed the educational establishment to create a world of robots or clones with little if any initiative and the desire to be taken care of from cradle to grave. They have been told that it’s their right.

      Glenn Beck has started a movement to put Americcans on the right track. The 8/28 gathering and the 40 Day Challange have served to begin the wake up call to a sleeping country. I hope it continues to bear fruit. It’s OK to disagree in a civil manner, but do everything in the light of what our founding fathers had in mind.

      Report Post »  
    • Citizen7154
      Posted on October 14, 2010 at 6:19am

      I don’t think that they are sheep. I think that they are thirsty for guidance. Too many parents have been apathetic of our country’s history. Too many educational institutions have been more than willing to bend history to their own ends. For too long we have allowed our students’ minds to be shaped by a liberal view of history. I have always loved history and the best solution in this instance is to present a better, more accurate representation of history. Absent that, they will have to follow history by making the mistake of voting for socialistic sounding policies (done), regretting that vote (done), and learning from it (remains to be seen).

      Report Post »  
    • ironcowboy
      Posted on October 14, 2010 at 7:35am

      I guess some of the churlish-dults finally realized the bill for the party was on their butts… Bahhhhh hahahahahah… Oh the tax rate they will pay…zoom straight to the moon.

      Report Post » ironcowboy  
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