In an interesting turn of events, a 74 year-old Vermont Senator who refers to himself as a “democratic socialist” has captured the hearts of many young voters–leading The Daily Beast to refer to him as “The Big Man on Campus.”
And the polls agree. While Hillary Clinton has been working the talk show circuit for the past month, trying to convince people that she is relatable and trustworthy, Sen. Bernie Sanders is closing in and possibly even surpassing Hillary Clinton in terms of favorability among college students.
In a nationwide survey of college students attending both two and four-year universities, 59 percent said they would support Sanders, while only 18 percent selected Clinton. This is a huge shift from when the survey was first commissioned in mid-June, and Clinton led Sanders 40 percent to 26 percent.
In a recent Quinnipac poll, Sanders’ favorability among the 18-34 year-old age group was 47 percent, compared to Clinton’s 48 percent.
On Monday, Sanders gave a rousing speech at his alma mater, the University of Chicago, promoting his ideas including a $15 federal minimum wage and pay equity between men and women.
He insisted the U.S. needs a “political revolution” to combat problems like climate change and income inequality and to overhaul the current election system and campaign finance law.
Sanders spoke directly to his audience about youth unemployment, and connected it to the fact that the United States has more people in jail than any other country.
“In my view, it makes a hell of a lot more sense to be investing in education and jobs, rather than jails and incarcerations,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
Sanders also appeals to youth with his “College For All” proposal eliminating undergraduate tuition and fees at public colleges.
“We need your help,” was a refrain Sanders repeated to students throughout his speech. He said if more young people show up at the polls, the tide of elections would shift towards progressive candidates.
One University of Chicago student who was at Sanders’ speech Monday told The Daily Beast that she used to support Hillary Clinton, but changed her mind after hearing some of Sanders’ ideas.
“I used to be very pro-Hillary and then switched over, and I think that what changed things for me was hearing Bernie’s message on the environment and on inequality,” said University of Chicago student Nadia Perl. “And what he’s saying is very genuine, based on his personal experiences, and he’s had these views his whole life.”
The student admitted that Sanders is “idealistic,” but said she admires the fact that he refuses to make compromises in his vision, which, she added, “it seems like candidates like Hillary are doing.”
