SCGOP 2.0: Youth Outreach

Part 3 of Creating the SCGOP 2.0

We got smoked in 2008 with young voters. A study by the Pew Research Center showed “66% of those under age 30 voted for Barack Obama making the disparity between young voters and other age groups larger than in any presidential election since exit polling began in 1972.”

Ouch!

The South Carolina Republican Party just wrapped up its 2009 County Conventions and it’s become even more evident that we are in a bad spot with our nation’s young voters. It’s especially reflected in our South Carolina Teenage Republican, College Republican, and Young Republican membership roles. If we do not reverse this trend immediately, we will feel the harsh consequences for many election cycles to come.  The Democrats were successful in 2008 with youth because:

1. They had a message that resonated with young voters;
2. They had a messenger who resonated with young voters; and
3. They connected with the right method.

As for #1, we have the right message. We just have to do a better job marketing it to our young voters. We have to let them know the long-term affects big government will have on their lives. Sometimes its difficult, but we have to deliver our message in a way that helps young voters think beyond the here and now and toward the future.

As for #2, South Carolina has seen a remarkable influx of young, new faces in the General Asssembly. We have done a good job electing strong, young conservative legislators like Nikki Haley, Shane Massey, Nathan Ballentine, Dan Hamilton, Mick Mulvaney, Phillip Shoopman, and Eric Bedingfield. Now we have to take the next step and let them carry our message and be our face to young South Carolina voters.

Now on to #3.  We all know where to find our young voters – The Internet. A recent study by Pew Internet showed that 83% of 18-24 year olds have active profiles on social networking sites. Unfortunately we have done a poor job using the web to reach out to these voters.  We must reach out to young voters through all major social networking sites and with a targeted Internet advertising campaign to rebuild our TR, CR, and YR chapters.

By the 2010 election, we should ensure that every single South Carolina college has an operating College Republican chapter, every Top 15 Republican county has a Young Republican chapter, and 25 new high schools across the state have operating Teenage Republican chapters. We can accomplish these goals by reaching out to young voters on all major social networking sites and with a targeted Internet advertising campaign.

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• SCGOP 2.0: Data Harvesting & Analysis
• The Internet Is Your Primary Tool To Connect With Voters
• Go Where The People Are
• One Giant Leap for the RNC
• Download Our Introduction to Internet Politics for Republicans

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