Young Voters Connect With Howard Dean

Peter Benziger, a 21-year-old University of Maine student, drove 3 1/2 hours to hear Dean speak Monday at the New Hampshire campus. When he walked out after hearing Dean, he had to take a long pause when asked why he supported this contender for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"I'm sorry, I'm so excited, I'm not thinking straight," he said with a grin. "He's the first candidate I trust. He's genuine. And his lack of Washington connections is a big thing for me. He's not into pleasing everyone, and I like that."

"He's rational, it's all straight talk and common sense," said 26-year-old Abraham Viles, another University of Maine student. "They say young people don't vote; well, this time they will."

Young voters have traditionally had the lowest turnout rate at the polls. About a third of 18-to-24-year-olds vote, or about half the rate of 65-to-74-year-olds, the most consistent voters, according to a 2002 U.S. Census Bureau report.

But Thomas Patterson, a professor of government and the press at Harvard University and author of the 2002 book, "The Vanishing Voter," "If you go back and review recent presidential elections in the period 1972 to 2004, there doesn't seem to be any candidacy that has mobilized young people to the degree (Dean) has been able to do it."

Patterson argued that Dean's Internet-centered campaign has drawn in many younger voters who are able to get involved by writing in to the campaign's online discussion and sending e-mails to the campaign. The number of small donors who have contributed to Dean, the size of the donations - averaging $77 - and the fact that many donations have come through the Internet are all clear signs, he said, that many givers are new to the political process.

Student after student in New Hampshire Monday and at Dean's first tour stop at Washington's Howard University, a predominantly black campus, said they would support Dean because they believe he is genuine.

"He tells the truth. ... He gives you the meat," 19-year-old Howard University student Amber Elliott said. "Even if he doesn't win, he has gotten people interested that haven't been interested before, ... and I already told my parents they have to vote for him."