Young voters like Bernie Sanders because they think Hillary Clinton is their parents' candidate, PBS finds

(Image credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

last updated 10 February 2016

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is crushing Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton among voters under 30, at least in the first two voting states. There are probably a lot of reasons younger voters back Sanders, including his aura of authenticity and outsider status, his promise of a Washington-shaking revolution, and his stands on campaign finance, tuition-free college, and taxing Wall Street. But, PBS Newshour's Daniel Bush says, millennials aren't "connecting with Hillary" for a more "obvious" reason, "and we're missing it." That reason? Clinton is yesterday's candidate.

The idea that Clinton, 68, is too old-school may seem odd considering that her main challenger — the one beloved by young voters — is a 74-year-old self-described democratic socialist. But many millennials were babies during Bill Clinton's presidency, in middle school during Hillary Clinton's 2008 run, and in high school when she was secretary of state. "Hillary is like our parents' Bernie," college freshman Madison Egan told Newshour over the din of indie rock group Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, playing on stage at a Sanders rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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