From An exclusive new poll commissioned by Reader's Digest finds that voters under 30 are changing the landscape of American politics this year, getting involved in the presidential election in higher numbers and with louder voices than ever before. They are more socially conscious, participatory and liberal than their elders, and they break heavily toward Barack Obama. Read the full poll below and check out our Facebook Election report.
What is your age?
18-24
51%
25-29
49%
Please indicate your gender.
Male
49%
Female
51%
With regard to school, are you currently enrolled in any of the following? Please select all that apply.
High school
8%
Trade/ Vocational school
3%
Business or professional school
2%
2-year or junior college or community college
91%
Four year college or university
7%
Graduate school
51%
Not enrolled in college or university, but taking at least one course
4%
Not currently enrolled in any state
45%
Region
Northeast
22%
South
33%
Midwest
23%
West
22%
With which of the following racial groups do you most closely identify?
White
63%
Hispanic
18%
Black
8%
African American
6%
Asian or Pacific Islander
4%
Mixed racial background
1%
Native American or Alaskan native
1%
Other race
-
We understand that plenty of young people are not registered to vote, but we are wondering if you are registered to vote?
Yes
80%
No
17%
Don't know
3%
In November, there will be a general election for President. How likely is it that you vote in that election?
Definitely will be voting
66%
Probably will be voting
16%
50-50
18%
When it comes to voting, with which party do you consider yourself to be affiliated?
Democratic Party
39%
Republican
24%
Independent
37%
Did you vote in your states Presidential primary earlier this year? (n=484)
(Asked of registered voters from states that have already held primaries)
(Asked of registered voters from states that have already held primaries)
Yes
58%
No
42%
Which primary did you vote in? (n=281)
(Asked of those who voted in state’s Presidential primary earlier this year)
(Asked of those who voted in state’s Presidential primary earlier this year)
Democrat
66%
Republican
34%
For whom did you vote? (n=95)
(Asked of Republicans who voted)
(Asked of Republicans who voted)
John McCain
38%
Mike Huckabee
21%
Ron Paul
20%
Mitt Romney
11%
Rudolph Giuliani
6%
Fred Thompson
3%
For whom did you vote? (n=186)
(Asked of Democrats who voted)
(Asked of Democrats who voted)
Barack Obama
56%
Hillary Clinton
36%
John Edwards
4%
Joe Biden
3%
Chris Dodd
1%
Bill Richardson
-
Did you participate in your states Presidential caucus earlier this year? (n=64)
(Asked of registered voters form states that have already held caucuses)
(Asked of registered voters form states that have already held caucuses)
Democrat
56%
Republican
43%
For whom did you vote? (n=9)
(Asked of Republicans who caucused)
(Asked of Republicans who caucused)
Ron Paul
42%
John McCain
35%
Mitt Romney
13%
Mike Huckabee
10%
For whom did you vote? (n=12)
(Asked of Democrats who caucused)
(Asked of Democrats who caucused)
Barack Obama
75%
Hillary Clinton
20%
John Edwards
5%
Outside of direct contact from a candidates campaign, did someone or some other organization encourage you to vote in any way? (n=677)
(Asked of those who are from states that have already held primaries or caucuses)
(Asked of those who are from states that have already held primaries or caucuses)
Yes
22%
No
88%
Below is a list of attributes some people use to think about Presidential candidates. For each attribute, please indicate whether you think it is a positive for the candidate running for President or a negative.
Summary of attributes by candidate
[Net Positive / Net Negative]
Attribute
Clinton
Obama
McCain
Position on social issues like gay rights and abortion
42% / 19%
+23
+23
32% / 15%
+17
+17
16% / 24%
-8
-8
Age
32% / 11%
+21
+21
39% / 11%
+28
+28
14% / 24%
-10
-10
Political party
34% / 18%
+16
+16
36% / 15%
+21
+21
18% / 24%
-6
-6
Position on domestic issues like health care and the economy
35% / 20%
+15
+15
37% / 15%
+22
+22
20% / 19%
-1
-1
Record and career in public service
33% / 19%
+14
+14
32% / 15%
+17
+17
16% / 24%
-8
-8
Leadership skills
33% / 20%
+13
+13
41% / 13%
+28
+28
30% / 13%
+17
+17
Position on Iraq
30% / 21%
+9
+9
36% / 17%
+19
+19
21% / 25%
-4
-4
Position on foreign policy issues other than Iraq
25% / 20%
+5
+5
32% / 14%
+18
+18
21% / 21%
0
0
The way in which they have run their campaign to date
24% / 28%
-4
-4
38% / 13%
+25
+25
26% / 15%
+11
+11
Note: Net Positive is the net total of those ranking each candidate an 8-10 on a 0-10 scale. Net negative is the net total of those ranking each candidate 0-2 on the same scale.
For each attribute, please indicate whether you think it is a positive for the candidate running for President or a negative.
John McCain
Age: John McCain
NET: Negative (0-2)
24%
0- Very Negative
13%
1
5%
2
6%
3
9%
4
11%
5
26%
6
8%
7
7%
NET: Positive (8-10)
14%
8
6%
9
4%
10- Very Positive
5%
Mean
4.5
Record and career in public service: John McCain
NET: Negative (0-2)
13%
0- Very Negative
7%
1
2%
2
3%
3
5%
4
10%
5
21%
6
11%
7
11%
NET: Positive (8-10)
30%
8
11%
9
7%
10- Very Positive
12%
Mean
5.8
Leadership skills: John McCain
NET: Negative (0-2)
13%
0- Very Negative
9%
1
2%
2
3%
3
4%
4
11%
5
20%
6
12%
7
11%
NET: Positive (8-10)
30%
8
10%
9
8%
10- Very Positive
12%
Mean
5.8
Position on domestic issues like health care and the economy: John McCain
NET: Negative (0-2)
20%
0- Very Negative
11%
1
3%
2
6%
3
7%
4
13%
5
25%
6
9%
7
8%
NET: Positive (8-10)
19%
8
7%
9
4%
10- Very Positive
7%
Mean
4.9
Position on Iraq: John McCain
NET: Negative (0-2)
25%
0- Very Negative
16%
1
5%
2
5%
3
8%
4
10%
5
21%
6
9%
7
7%
NET: Positive (8-10)
21%
8
7%
9
5%
10- Very Positive
9%
Mean
4.7
Position on other foreign policy issues other than Iraq: John McCain
NET: Negative (0-2)
21%
0- Very Negative
12%
1
3%
2
8%
3
5%
4
12%
5
24%
6
10%
7
8%
NET: Positive (8-10)
21%
8
8%
9
6%
10- Very Positive
8%
Mean
5.0
The way in which they have run their campaign to date: John McCain
NET: Negative (0-2)
15%
0- Very Negative
9%
1
2%
2
3%
3
4%
4
10%
5
24%
6
12%
7
10%
NET: Positive (8-10)
26%
8
11%
9
7%
10- Very Positive
9%
Mean
5.5
Political Party: John McCain
NET: Negative (0-2)
24%
0- Very Negative
14%
1
3%
2
7%
3
9%
4
12%
5
21%
6
9%
7
8%
NET: Positive (8-10)
18%
8
7%
9
%
10- Very Positive
7%
Mean
4.7
Position on social issues like gay rights and abortion: John McCain
NET: Negative (0-2)
24%
0- Very Negative
14%
1
3%
2
7%
3
8%
4
12%
5
26%
6
8%
7
7%
NET: Positive (8-10)
16%
8
5%
9
5%
10- Very Positive
7%
Mean
4.6
Barack Obama
Age: Barack Obama
NET: Negative (0-2)
11%
0- Very Negative
7%
1
1%
2
3%
3
3%
4
6%
5
19%
6
10%
7
11%
NET: Positive (8-10)
39%
8
10%
9
12%
10- Very Positive
18%
Mean
6.4
Record and career in public service: Barack Obama
NET: Negative (0-2)
16%
0- Very Negative
8%
1
3%
2
5%
3
6%
4
9%
5
19%
6
11%
7
9%
NET: Positive (8-10)
31%
8
10%
9
8%
10- Very Positive
13%
Mean
5.7
Leadership skills: Barack Obama
NET: Negative (0-2)
13%
0- Very Negative
9%
1
1%
2
4%
3
4%
4
7%
5
16%
6
10%
7
10%
NET: Positive (8-10)
41%
8
11%
9
10%
10- Very Positive
20%
Mean
6.3
Position on domestic issues like health care and the economy: Barack Obama
NET: Negative (0-2)
15%
0- Very Negative
9%
1
2%
2
4%
3
5%
4
8%
5
17%
6
9%
7
10%
NET: Positive (8-10)
37%
8
11%
9
10%
10- Very Positive
17%
Mean
6.0
Position on Iraq: Barack Obama
NET: Negative (0-2)
17%
0- Very Negative
11%
1
3%
2
3%
3
4%
4
10%
5
16%
6
9%
7
9%
NET: Positive (8-10)
36%
8
10%
9
8%
10- Very Positive
18%
Mean
5.9
Position on other foreign policy issues other than Iraq: Barack Obama
NET: Negative (0-2)
0- Very Negative
9%
1
3%
2
2%
3
5%
4
9%
5
19%
6
11%
7
10%
NET: Positive (8-10)
32%
8
9%
9
9%
10- Very Positive
14%
Mean
5.8
The way in which they have run their campaign to date: Barack Obama
NET: Negative (0-2)
13%
0- Very Negative
8%
1
1%
2
4%
3
4%
4
11%
5
14%
6
10%
7
11%
NET: Positive (8-10)
38%
8
12%
9
9%
10- Very Positive
17%
Mean
6.1
Political Party: Barack Obama
NET: Negative (0-2)
15%
0- Very Negative
9%
1
3%
2
4%
3
4%
4
8%
5
19%
6
10%
7
8%
NET: Positive (8-10)
36%
8
10%
9
9%
10- Very Positive
17%
Mean
6.0
Position on social issues like gay rights and abortion: Barack Obama
NET: Negative (0-2)
15%
0- Very Negative
10%
1
3%
2
2%
3
4%
4
9%
5
20%
6
9%
7
11%
NET: Positive (8-10)
32%
8
10%
9
8%
10- Very Positive
13%
Mean
5.7
Hillary Clinton
Age: Hillary Clinton
NET: Negative (0-2)
11%
0- Very Negative
8%
1
2%
2
2%
3
5%
4
9%
5
22%
6
10%
7
12%
NET: Positive (8-10)
32%
8
11%
9
8%
10- Very Positive
13%
Mean
5.9
Record and career in public service: Hillary Clinton
NET: Negative (0-2)
19%
0- Very Negative
10%
1
3%
2
6%
3
6%
4
11%
5
16%
6
9%
7
8%
NET: Positive (8-10)
33%
8
8%
9
11%
10- Very Positive
14%
Mean
5.6
Leadership skills: Hillary Clinton
NET: Negative (0-2)
20%
0- Very Negative
11%
1
3%
2
7%
3
5%
4
8%
5
15%
6
8%
7
11%
NET: Positive (8-10)
33%
8
9%
9
9%
10- Very Positive
15%
Mean
5.6
Position on domestic issues like health care and the economy: Hillary Clinton
NET: Negative (0-2)
20%
0- Very Negative
11%
1
3%
2
5%
3
4%
4
8%
5
16%
6
9%
7
9%
NET: Positive (8-10)
35%
8
9%
9
10%
10- Very Positive
16%
Mean
5.7
Position on Iraq: Hillary Clinton
NET: Negative (0-2)
21%
0- Very Negative
13%
1
3%
2
5%
3
5%
4
10%
5
17%
6
7%
7
10%
NET: Positive (8-10)
30%
8
10%
9
8%
10- Very Positive
12%
Mean
5.3
Position on other foreign policy issues other than Iraq: Hillary Clinton
NET: Negative (0-2)
20%
0- Very Negative
12%
1
2%
2
6%
3
4%
4
12%
5
17%
6
11%
7
11%
NET: Positive (8-10)
25%
8
7%
9
7%
10- Very Positive
11%
Mean
5.3
The way in which they have run their campaign to date: Hillary Clinton
NET: Negative (0-2)
28%
0- Very Negative
15%
1
5%
2
7%
3
6%
4
9%
5
14%
6
12%
7
9%
NET: Positive (8-10)
24%
8
7%
9
6%
10- Very Positive
10%
Mean
4.9
Political Party: Hillary Clinton
NET: Negative (0-2)
18%
0- Very Negative
11%
1
3%
2
4%
3
4%
4
8%
5
19%
6
8%
7
9%
NET: Positive (8-10)
34%
8
9%
9
10%
10- Very Positive
15%
Mean
5.7
Position on social issues like gay rights and abortion: Hillary Clinton
NET: Negative (0-2)
19%
0- Very Negative
12%
1
3%
2
4%
3
4%
4
10%
5
21%
6
8%
7
12%
NET: Positive (8-10)
42%
8
8%
9
8%
10- Very Positive
11%
Mean
5.4
This November’s election could be historic in many ways. How much are you looking forward to each of the following aspects of this election?
[Note: 39-45 were rotated, and are displayed in descending order, with the aspect that voters are most looking forward to first]
Voting in November.
NET: Not Looking Forward To (0-2)
8%
0- Not looking forward to at all
4%
1
2%
2
2%
3
2%
4
5%
5
11%
6
6%
7
12%
NET: Looking Forward To (8-10)
57%
8
9%
9
7%
10- Very much looking forward to
40%
Mean
7.4
The end of the Bush Presidency.
NET: Not Looking Forward To (0-2)
12%
0- Not looking forward to at all
8%
1
1%
2
3%
3
3%
4
7%
5
8%
6
5%
7
5%
NET: Looking Forward To (8-10)
60%
8
7%
9
4%
10- Very much looking forward to
49%
Mean
7.2
The chance to elect the first African-American president.
NET: Not Looking Forward To (0-2)
24%
0- Not looking forward to at all
18%
1
3%
2
4%
3
3%
4
8%
5
14%
6
8%
7
7%
NET: Looking Forward To (8-10)
36%
8
5%
9
9%
10- Very much looking forward to
22%
Mean
5.6
The chance to elect the first female president.
NET: Not Looking Forward To (0-2)
28%
0- Not looking forward to at all
21%
1
3%
2
4%
3
3%
4
7%
5
13%
6
7%
7
7%
NET: Looking Forward To (8-10)
35%
8
6%
9
9%
10- Very much looking forward to
21%
Mean
5.3
The chance to elect Barack Obama.
NET: Not Looking Forward To (0-2)
33%
0- Not looking forward to at all
23%
1
3%
2
6%
3
3%
4
4%
5
13%
6
6%
7
6%
NET: Looking Forward To (8-10)
35%
8
6%
9
6%
10- Very much looking forward to
23%
Mean
5.2
The chance to elect Hillary Clinton.
NET: Not Looking Forward To (0-2)
38%
0- Not looking forward to at all
31%
1
3%
2
4%
3
5%
4
4%
5
14%
6
6%
7
7%
NET: Looking Forward To (8-10)
27%
8
6%
9
6%
10- Very much looking forward to
15%
Mean
4.4
The chance to elect John McCain.
NET: Not Looking Forward To (0-2)
38%
0- Not looking forward to at all
31%
1
6%
2
6%
3
5%
4
9%
5
13%
6
6%
7
7%
NET: Looking Forward To (8-10)
18%
8
5%
9
4%
10- Very much looking forward to
9%
Mean
3.8
Thinking beyond this year to the 2010 and 2012 elections, how likely are you to continue voting for the party you will likely vote for in November.
Very likely
47%
Somewhat likely
48%
Not very likely
5%
Not at all likely
1%
Now thinking specifically about health care, which one of the following health care issues would you most like to hear the presidential candidates talk about?
18-29
Year Olds
Year Olds
Nationwide
Adults
Adults
Reducing the cost of healthcare and health insurance
50%
41%
Expanding health insurance for the uninsured
33%
31%
Improving the quality of care and reducing medical errors
11%
14%
Reducing spending on government health programs like Medicare
4%
8%
Not sure
3%
-
Note: Language for question 47 and nationwide results were taken from a November/December 2007 poll by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
Would you favor or oppose a law that would ban gay marriage, requiring that marriage should be between a man and a woman?
18-29
Year Olds
Year Olds
Nationwide
Adults
Adults
Favor
44%
51%
Oppose
56%
45%
Note: Language for question 48 and nationwide results were taken from a March 2008 poll by the Associated Press and Ipsos-Public Affairs.
Would you favor or oppose a law that would require all Americans between the ages of 18 and 26 to serve their country for two years in one of a variety of areas, including health and social welfare programs and the military?
Favor
27%
Oppose
73%
When it comes to most political issues, do you consider yourself a liberal, a moderate, or a conservative?
Liberal
32%
Moderate
47%
Conservative
21%
Which of the following best describes your religious reference?
No religious preference
27%
Catholic
23%
Fundamentalist Evangelical Christian
11%
Protestant
11%
Prefer not to answer
9%
Not sure
4%
Mormon
3%
Jewish
2%
Muslim
1%
Another religion
11%
Do you consider yourself a born-again Christian? (n=445)
(Asked of those with Catholic, Protestant or Another Religious Preference)
(Asked of those with Catholic, Protestant or Another Religious Preference)
Yes
39%
No
52%
Don't know
10%
Q53 and Q54 were each asked to half the sample
In the last few years, have you become: (n=405)
More religious
26%
Less religious
20%
Stayed about the same
54%
In the past few years, have you become: (n=392)
More spiritual
34%
Less spiritual
16%
Stayed about the same
51%
How important is religion in your own life?
Very important
35%
Somewhat important
32%
Not very important
27%
Don't know
5%
What is the highest level of education you have completed?
Less than high school
1%
Completed some high school
7%
High school graduate or equivalent
18%
Completed some college, but no degree
35%
Associates degree
8%
College graduate (eg BA, BS…)
21%
Completed some graduate school, but no degree
4%
Completed graduate school
6%
Not sure
-
What is your employment status?
Student
17%
Employed full time
43%
Employed part time
10%
Not employed, but looking for work
13%
Self employed
4%
Not employed and not looking for work
3%
Homemaker
12%