Young Voters Favor Obama - Only Half of Them Intend to Vote

President Obama seems to have the youth vote in hand, but there are questions as to how many of them will actually show up for the election.

Obama leads Republican candidate Mitt Romney by 19 points -- 55% to 36% -- among 18- to 29-year-olds, according to a poll by the Harvard Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Yet the institute also noted that "voting enthusiasm" is falling within this group, and only 48% say they will definitely cast ballots this fall.

"All signs indicate that young voter turnout will not be shattering any records on Nov. 6. In 2008, 18- to 29-year-old voters posted the third-highest turnout since 1972, and broke for Obama over Republican nominee John McCain by a 2-to-1 ratio."

"The IOP's latest poll shows a clear sentiment by young adults that Washington is broken," said Harvard Institute of Politics Director Trey Grayson.
 

In its review of the youth poll, National Journal reports:

"On every issue, from the economy to immigration to health care to foreign affairs, young voters said they trust the president more than Romney. Nonetheless, the Romney supporters appear to be more enthusiastic, with 66% who support the former Massachusetts governor saying they will definitely vote, compared to 55% of Obama backers.

Read More Here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2012/10/17/obama-young-voters-romey-harvard-poll/1639455/