Over 50s Sway US Elections
Americans over 50 played a key role in the US November 2006 elections- as Australians over 50 will in the 2007 Australian Federal election.
The main features of the US 50+ were that:
1. There are a lot of them- 52 percent of the voters in the November election
2. They’ll be a key voting bloc in the 2008 presidential campaign. Their votes shifted from supporting Republicans to Democrats in 2006.
3. Independent voters were especially important. Nine of every 10 Republicans voted for Republican candidates; nine of every 10 Democrats voted for Democrats. But independents tipped the balance: Independents 50 to 64 voted 55 percent to 41 percent for Democrats. Independents over 65 voted 50 percent to 44 percent for Democrats.
4. Corruption in Washington and the economy were the biggest concerns
5. They’re unhappy with Bush, disapprove of Congress and believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. They express some support and fondness for George W. Bush, but most disapprove of the way he’s running the country.
6. Voters were upset with the economy, ranking it as the second most important issue as they voted. Democrats’ agenda for the next session of Congress—raising the minimum wage, cutting drug costs, balancing the federal budget—addresses those concerns.
7.. More voters disapprove of the Iraq war than favor it. Older voters favor withdrawing some or all troops, compared to one in five favoring sending more troops
