And More Liberal Annoyance Toward Harold Ford, Jr. (DINO-TN)
Next Tuesday, the nation may see the "the highest youth turnout for a midterm election" since 1971, according to a new Harvard study. Not only are a sizeable majority of these young voters Democrats ( 52 [D] - 29 [R] ), but studies have long confirmed that homophobia is a rare and endangered disease among the young.
In a recent post about the gay vote in Tennessee, I noted that Harold Ford's disdain for the LGBT citizens of Tennessee may be his downfall. That hypothesis is further strengthened by a potential increase in the youth vote.
There are an estimated 148,868 gay, lesbian, and bisexual adults in Tennessee (pdf). That is 3.4% of the state population. Reports of a large increase in the number of 'out' gay couples in Tennessee and in the nation suggest that the GOP-led witch hunt or hostile assault on gay citizens has led to both a larger 'out' population and an increasingly politicized body of gay voters.
Combine a rise in the gay vote with an increase in the youth vote and we could see some marriage amendments defeated and a Democratic Congress.
Thankfully, Harold Ford isn't the only hope for the Dems to take the Senate because every time the man opens his mouth he alienates progressive voters. Ford's latest outreach to Republican voters was to reach out and stab Kerry in the back. Just days before the election, the wannabe Senator showed us his Democratic Party loyalty. As they say, when given a choice between a Democrat who behaves like a Republican and a genuine Republican, voters choose the real thing every time -- or they choose a Green, which amounts to the same thing when you are stuck in an archaic two-party system.
I want Tennessee to help the Dems take the Senate, and I want it enough to hold my nose and vote for Harold Ford, but if he loses, it may well be due to his abject failure to give even a nod of acknowledgment to the liberals in this state. If Ford loses, we will not be shedding any tears for him.
"Younger voters could make the difference in campaigns across the country," said Jeanne Shaheen, a former New Hampshire governor and director of Harvard's Institute of Politics, which conducted the poll.
About 52 percent of those "most likely" to vote on November 7 prefer Democrats to control Congress, while 29 percent favor Republicans and 19 percent have no preference, according to the Harvard poll of 2,546 young Americans taken October 4-16.
By a three-to-one margin, they say the country is on the "wrong track." Forty-six percent favor a total troop withdrawal from Iraq within a year, while a third said troops should be withdrawn after the Iraqis take full control.
"Young people overwhelmingly are more supportive of the Democrats in this election," said John Della Volpe, who directed the Harvard poll.
Update: Kos says Ford will lose.
Harold Ford Gay Politics Bob Corker Tennessee Homophobia Nashville Gay Marriage Republicans Marriage Amendment Tennessee Vote No on 1 Politics News Democrats
