2008 Highlights: New Hampshire

As the nation’s attention shifted to New Hampshire, the Student PIRGs worked feverishly to continue the youth vote gains of Iowa.   

Student volunteers continued a months-long effort to show the candidates loud and clear that young people in the Granite State also want politicians to pay attention to us.

The effort again paid off. After seeing the youth vote returns in Iowa, the political establishment and politicians finally began to recognize the importance of young voters. 

According to her campaign, for example, in New Hampshire Senator Clinton re-focused her efforts on reaching young people, leading to a near-split in the youth vote between the two leading democratic candidates.

When asked what difference between Iowa and New Hampshire led to Senator Clintons’ victory, a senior Clinton campaign strategist stated, “In New Hampshire we didn’t ignore the youth vote” (see MTV interview with Clinton acknowledging “we really should've been doing [targeting youth] all along”).”

The political establishment also finally recognized the importance of the youth vote. For hours on election night, the nation waited with baited breath for returns from college precincts.

In the end, all the increased attention on young voters paid off.  Youth turnout doubled in New Hampshire, with the campaigns and national politicos pointing to the youth vote as a key constituency.

Major media outlets such as Businessweek placed a spotlight on issues important to young people and local press once credited Student PIRG efforts with helping to drive turnout to the polls.

Over-25 Vote Gave Clinton Crucial Edge -  January 9, 2008

Youthquake - January 9, 2008

Youth Voices Heard in New Hampshire Primary Vote - January 11, 2008