Gender, race, ethnicity, economic status are traditional factors in determining a person’s voting choice. For the 2008 election, one significant variable has been reintroduced: age. Political commentators have all noticed that a significant amount of support for Obama’s campaign has come from the “Millenials,” the age group ranging from 18-29. Obama’s rhetoric of change is refreshing for America’s youth, who have grown up with presidencies rocked by the remnants of the cultural and social upheavals of the baby boom generation.

This trend can be explained in part by the communication revolution through the Internet. Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, podcasts, and blogs are the new conduits of political activity and surely the biggest user base for these electronic tools is America’s youth. Young voters see Obama as a celebrity inside and outside the political sphere. Hollywood celebrities have become a link, connecting the youth with Obama’s campaign and the rhetoric it uses. An 18 year-old voter would be more moved by Will I. Am’s support for Obama than a voter over the age of 30.

YouTube in particular has been a significant source for the dissemination of election events. By displaying everything from debates, to speeches, to interviews, to advertisements, and public announcements, it has drawn youths into the political arena and has transformed them from spectators to active participants, especially in this year’s election. Underlying all this propaganda to get involved in the election is the call for one to honor the classic idea of civic duty. The “Don’t Vote” video on YouTube combines the force of the Internet, the influence of celebrities, and the idea of civic duty to get people to vote. The combination of these factors creates a message that rings most clearly for America’s youth. This empowering rhetoric reminds young voters that they can be a pivotal force in the political world, despite their age. Rallying behind Obama’s rhetoric for change, young America will become an even more influential force in the political world. For this election, America’s youth have come out in significant figures to honor their civic duty.