Young voters have almost always leaned Democrat, but that trend has intensified drastically since 2006, according to a new Gallup report. From 1993 to 2003, an average of 47% of 18-to-29-year-olds identified as Democrats or independents who leaned Democrat, compared to 42% who identified or leaned Republican; in 1994 and 1995 Republicans even briefly had an edge. But since 2006 that gap has exploded, and is now at 54% to 36%.
Partially that lines up with an increase in racial diversity. Today 45% of young people aren't white, up from 29% in 1995, and non-white Americans lean heavily Democratic across all age groups. But even young white people now lean Democratic, where they used to lean Republican. But not all the polls out today are nearly as encouraging for Democrats. Others include:
- Support for ObamaCare has dropped to 26% in a new AP/Gfk poll, the Washington Times reports. Support for the law has dropped 13 points since 2010, although opposition for the law has also decreased, dropping 7 points.
- The Washington Post notes that the same poll showed that 59% of Americans now disapprove of Barack Obama, a new high. His approval rating stands at 41%, his second-lowest ever.
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