Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Lionel Nicolau/DP Staff Photographer Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Howard Dean and Mayor Michael Nutter sit for an interview with the DP. [Click to enlarge]

In the eyes Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, this election is more than just a presidential race - it's a generational transition.

Last Friday, The Daily Pennsylvanian sat down to discuss the role of young voters in the 2008 election with Dean and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter.

Dean was in Philadelphia to attend a rally at Temple University, as Pennsylvania continues to be competitive between Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama and his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain.

The youth vote is seen by Dean, and others in the Democratic Party, as a key to victory this year for Obama.

DP: Gov. Dean, student registrations have been higher than ever. Students are getting involved at all levels of government. Young people are starting to really come out for Sen. Obama in this election. And across the board in every state of the primary, student registrations and participation are through the roof. What impact will all of this have on the future of the Democratic Party?

HD: This is your generation. This is the real activist generation. Sort of the baby boom echo. And I think, as I've said before, this is a generational transformation. A generational transition election year. Barack represents your generation even though he's 47. He speaks for your generation in many ways. He's different than my generation. And very much like the JFK election, this is a chance for your generation to begin assuming power.

DP: And what will this mean for future elections?

HD: Well, that already started. When I ran, that's what began the opening up of the Democratic Party. It's time for a new generation to come into the Democratic Party, and to reinvigorate the Democratic Party - which has happened. Your generation in 2006 voted 61 percent for the Democratic candidate for congress. So, it's a very diverse generation, it's a multicultural generation; and it's a generation that seeks to bring people together as opposed to driving people apart. Does that sound familiar to you?

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools