Young voters like Bernie Sanders because they think Hillary Clinton is their parents' candidate, PBS finds
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.
"People who are 18 or 20 didn't live through the Clinton era. To them, Hillary is just another public figure," Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran of Bill Clinton's 1996 campaign, tells Newshour. "There is a generational shift going on."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro
-
Kushner drops Trump hotel project in SerbiaSpeed Read Affinity Partners pulled out of a deal to finance a Trump-branded development in Belgrade


