THE CAROLINA TIMES - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016-3
Poll: Racial vulnerability linked to youth vote choice
By Emily Swanson
WASHINGTON (AP) - Among the youngest white adult Americans, feelings of ra
cial and economic vulnerability appear to be closely connected to their support for Don
ald Trump in last month’s election.
That’s according to an analysis of a new GenForward poll of Americans between the
ages of 18 and 30. Other surveys of white adults of all ages have found a similar pattern.
Among young people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, feelings toward Presi
dent Barack Obama and about the way the government is working were related to sup
port for Trump’s Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.
The pre-election survey data comes from a GenForward poll conducted by the Black
Youth Project at the University of Chicago with the Associated Press-NORC Center for
Public Affairs Research.
The survey is designed to highlight how race and ethnicity shape the opinions of a
new generation.
Things to know about young voters in the 2016 election:
DEMOGRAPHICS
The GenForward polls showed that even the youngest voters were deeply divided
along racial and ethnic lines in this year’s election. Large majorities of young black,
Hispanic and Asian-American likely voters in the surveys said they planned to vote for
Clinton, compared with less than half of young white likely voters who said the same.
Among young white adults, more than half of those with a college degree supported
Clinton, compared with less than 4 in 10 without such a degree.
The surveys suggest that support for Trump among young white likely voters in
creased in the weeks immediately before the election. Exit polls conducted for the AP
and television networks by Edison Research show that young whites were ultimately
slightly more likely to support Trump than Clinton.
WHITE VULNERABILITY
Among young whites, the survey suggests that feelings of racial and economic vul
nerability and racial resentment appear to have played a role in support for Trump.
tinos who felt that blacks need to work their way up in society without special favors
and haven’t been significantly held back by racial discrimination were more likely to
vote for Trump.
Both ofthose attitudes were closely linked with feelings ofracial vulnerability among
young whites, and those feelings of vulnerability had the strongest relationship with
choosing to vote for Trump when all three attitudes were analyzed together.
POLITICAL ALIENATION AND EQUALITY
The surveys show that feelings about the political system were linked to vote choices
among young people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Young Asian Americans and Latinos were less likely to support Clinton if they had
feelings of political alienation, such as that leaders in government are looking out pri
marily for themselves and don’t care about people like the them.
Young whites and African Americans who felt that American society and government
were moving toward greater political equality were more likely to support Clinton.
Whites, blacks, Latinos and Asian Americans were all more likely to support Clinton
if they had warmer feelings toward President Barack Obama.
The analysis is based on two polls ofyoung adults age 18-30 conducted Oct. 1-14 and
Oct.20-Nov. 3. Both used samples of about 1,800 people drawn from the probability-
based GenForward panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. young adult
population. The margins of sampling error for all respondents are plus or minus 3.8
percentage points and plus or minus 3.7 percentage points, respectively.
The survey was paid for by the Black Youth Project at the University of Chicago,
using grants from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford
Foundation.
Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods,
and later interviewed online or by phone.
Online:
GenForward polls: http://www.genforwardsurvey.com/
In particular, among young whites
who scored highest on a scale mea
suring “white vulnerability,” or feel
ings that whites are losing out so
cially and economically in today’s
society, more than half said they
planned to support Trump, compared
to only about 6 percent ofthose scor
ing lowest on the scale.
The analysis shows Trump per
formed well among young whites
who felt that gender discrimination
is not a problem in society. Likewise,
both young whites and young La
Al Sharpton talks
Trump while
delivering sermon
in Camden
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - The Rev.
Al Sharpton told a church congre
gation in Camden that he’s “not
fretting Donald Trump” because he
made it through the administration
of former President Richard Nixon.
The Philadelphia Inquirer re
ports the civil rights advocate made
the remarks on Dec. 11 while giv
ing a sermon at Parkside United
Methodist Church.
The 62-year-old said the Ameri
can people will have to fight to pre
serve President Barack Obama’s
achievements moving forward.
Sharpton added that the question
isn’t what Trump will do as presi
dent, it’s what are we going to do
as citizens?
Over the years Sharpton has spo
ken at several churches throughout
the Camden area. This weekend’s
sermon marks the first time that he
preached at the 102-year-old house
of worship.
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