Young voters, solidly behind Obama, registering in droves

Arizona Republic

A new national poll says young adults age 18 to 29 overwhelmingly prefer Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. John McCain in the race for the White House.

Obama leads McCain 56 percent to 29 percent with 13 percent undecided and the remaining 2 percent supporting third-party candidates Ralph Nader and Bob Barr.

The Washington, D.C.-based Rock the Vote, a political-advocacy group, conducted the random telephone poll of 500 young people shortly after the Republican National Convention ended on Sept. 4. The poll had a 4 percentage-point margin of error.

The survey also indicates that young adults could register to vote in record numbers this year.

Rock the Vote officials say that 1.6 million people have downloaded voter-registration forms from the group's Web site, up from 1 million during the 2004 presidential election. It's unknown, however, how many people who download forms will follow through and register. Eighty-six percent of those polled said they were likely to vote in the presidential election.

Young-adult voter turnout was up in 2004, jumping to 49 percent from 40 percent in the 2000 election. Although not a record, it was the biggest percentage turnout since 1992 when 52 percent showed up at the polls.

"Our biggest registration weeks are yet to come," said Heather Smith, Rock the Vote executive director. "Most people register as we get closer and closer to the election."

Arizona's registration deadline for the Nov. 4 general election is midnight Oct. 6.........