Jackson Free Press

A poll recently conducted by the New York Times, CBS and MTV showed that Americans aged 17-29 lean toward the political left. The poll found that 54 percent of young Americans plan to vote for a Democrat for president in 2008, and, overall, that age group gives President Bush a 28 percent approval rating.

The numbers suggest that young people feel alienated from the Republican Party. By a 52-to-36 majority, young people say that Democrats, rather than Republicans, come closer to sharing their moral values. And 58 percent hold a "favorable view" of the Democratic Party, while only 38 percent said they had a favorable view of Republicans.

One major issue for young people is the rising cost of private health care. Sixty-two percent of young people said they would support a universal, government-sponsored national health-care insurance program, compared to only 47 percent of the general public.

For a national poll, maybe those left-leaning numbers aren't shocking. But it may surprise some JFP readers to know that in 2004, exit polling showed that 63 percent of Mississippians aged 18-30 voted for John Kerry—which led the South for that age group.

No one needs to watch this trend more closely than the Democratic Party—both the national party and its Mississippi chapter.

A recent visit to the state by Sen. Barak Obama was a tightly controlled photo-op and fund raiser. While the JFP was able to report on his appearance, the closed nature of the event meant young voters were unable to meet, hear and experience Sen. Obama, even as the national press touts him as the "rock star" candidate for our time.

That's a huge missed opportunity. Even if Obama's campaign handlers think that Mississippi is too "red" for campaigning, our young voters deserve the opportunity to get up close and personal with the candidates, who should not assume that their votes don't count because of the state they're from.

The Mississippi Democratic Party should take the opportunity presented by these shifting demographics to reach out to young people and take up their issues—health care, equal rights, ending the Iraq war—in a vocal and determined way.

A statewide political party that speaks to the issues that interest young, progressive minds not only has a future for itself, but will also help the state retain its young urban professionals, instead of watching them flee Mississippi for "bluer" pastures.