WHEELING - Democrats see young voters as their key to the White House this November, and state party officials are seeking to energize the youth in Ohio County to get politically involved and vote.
A meeting of the new Ohio County Young Democrats club is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Generations Restaurant & Pub in the Fulton section of Wheeling. The group is open to Democrats age 35 and younger.
"It is new, and we're trying to get them up and running," said Rod Snyder, president of the West Virginia Young Democrats. "We are trying to get them established so that we can draw upon them with less than 90 days leading up to the election.
He noted he also is working to organize Young Democrat chapters in Marshall and Tyler counties "in the coming days."
There are presently 30-35 Young Democrat chapters in the state, with about 700 signed up for the organization, according to Snyder.
Among the state Young Democrat chapters are county chapters, as well those at colleges and high schools throughout West Virginia. Many of the chapters are in the Eastern Panhandle and the Kanawha Valley region.
Fact Box
ALL THE YOUNG VOTERS
Turnout percentages in general elections for voters aged 18-29:
1972 55%
1976 49%
1980 48%
1984 49%
Source: Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement
1988 44%
1992 52%
1996 40%
2000 40%
2004 49%
"They seem to be geographic," Snyder said. "We're trying to expand."
He pointed out that Democrats know it's important to energize youths in this election year, as much of the appeal of presumed Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., appears to lie with young voters.
Most recent numbers show Obama leading his presumed Republican opponent, U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., by 30 points among those age 35 and younger, according to Snyder.
"Based on national polling, the young voters are trending Democrat," he said. "We are under the strong belief this presidential election will break youth voting records. We have already seen that this year.
"Our role is to facilitate the young Democrats so that they can connect with the candidate and so that we have a base of young volunteers," he added. "It's about peer-to-peer outreach and other 20-somethings reaching out to their friends. It's the most effective way to get young people register."
But will the young registered voters come out to vote in the general election? Snyder noted that they did for the primary elections, and he expects this trend will continue.
"We attribute this to Barack Obama and how well he has reached out to young voters," he said. "He is driving youth turnout, and we will see them come out to vote."