Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

In Meyer's own words, "It appears there is one crucial voting bloc that will not support Barack Obama: older Americans."

. . . Hillary Clinton has dominated among voters of a "certain age."

Obama prevailed in Iowa because a large  outpouring of young voters outweighed the reluctance of seniors.

In Iowa, Clinton grabbed 45 percent of the 65 and up while Obama took just 18 percent. In New Hampshire, she won 48 percent to 32 percent. Among voters 60 and older in Nevada, Clinton mopped up with a stunning 60 percent to Obama's 31 percent.

Nationally, Clinton led Obama 44 percent to 18 percent among voters over 65 in a CBS New/The New York Times poll taken January 9-12.

Meyer wrote that older folks turned out in large numbers in Nevada, more than 1/3 of the caucus goers. In Iowa, they were only one out of five.

"Clinton has solid support among other populations, especially women and voters down the income ladder. But Obama has had at least some success with those groups. In Iowa, he carried women 35 percent to 30. And voters earning less than $50,000 a year preferred Obama 34 percent to 32 percent."

So age demographics will impact the race and explains much of Clinton's lead in Florida. (That, and NY transplants during the winter months.)

Obama will need more outreach to win over these folks.

That's my find for the day.

Oh, 1 more find. Who was it who talked up Reagan as a favorite president when she was vying for a newspaper chain's endorsement in New Hampshire?

According to a press release on her own website — Hillary Clinton. Here it is (scroll).

Found at  http://www.hillaryclinton.c om/news/release/view/?id=46 74