There are a lot of young voters who were mobilized and energized by Barack Obama in 2008 that are wondering what happened to “Hope and Change” and why “Yes We Can” became maybe we will be able to someday.

The turnout of these voters in record numbers in 2008 was a key factor in President Obama getting the Democratic nomination and winning the election.  An absence of these voters or a significantly lower turnout could make the election a very close thing.

Polls have indicated that the enthusiasm level and the likelihood that they will vote has diminished greatly and that many of them will stay away from the polls in 2012 or perhaps turn to a third party candidate based on disenchantment with President Obama.

Neither would be good for President Obama and the fact that he has been campaigning extensively on college campuses indicates that he understands that he is far from having this block of voters solidly in his corner.

Motivating them to the levels of 2008 would seem an impossible task at this point.

It is appropriate that the future leader of the country and indeed the future of the country may be decided by young people.

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2012/09/25/103726

Thanks for the graphic to Nate Beeler - September 25, 2012 Townhall Cartoons