Focus group at Paul Smiths

Okay, it’s only a political science class — but I get to teach a couple of sessions today.

Frankly, I’m much more interested in hearing what college students are saying about this election.

Democrats are banking heavily on young voters turning out in droves. It’s a pretty wobbly bet, if history is any guide.

Can text-messages and Facebook appeals drive a new political wave on Tuesday?

That question aside, the Youth Problem is one of about a dozen dilemmas facing Republicans.

According to the latest Pew poll, 68% of Americans under the age of 30 prefer Barack Obama to John McCain. Ouch.

Fewer than 1-in-4 young people prefer to the GOP ticket.

Win or lose next week, the danger for Republicans is that the Democratic “brand” could become the default choice for the next generation of voters.

That’s what happened with Franklin Roosevelt in the 1940s and with Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.