Pollsters offered a harsh prediction to hopeful Republicans at the commencement of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. If Donald Trump can’t win millennials in Florida, he will lose the state — and the election.
“If the election were held today, Hillary Clinton wins,” Frank Luntz, a national pollster, told the Florida delegation. “You want an honest answer, that’s an honest answer. Your state is going to determine who wins and who loses this campaign.”
According to Luntz, there are millennials who support Trump, but he has not accumulated the same level of support as Clinton has among the younger generation.
The GOP hopes that millennials who supported Sanders will switch their support to Trump. Al Schwarz, the Seminole County GOP chairman, believes that refusing to reach out to Sanders supporters would be a lost opportunity for the Trump campaign.
“Bernie doesn’t promote job creation,” Schwartz said. “In fact, he does the opposite. But he does resonate with that concern about opportunity, that there’s an opportunity lost, and I think we can reach out to those of a younger generation.”
Because millennials are often drowning in debt and concerned about the economy, the GOP hopes that Trump can appeal to them with issues they understand.
However, engaging millennials has proven to be a daunting task, even as the success of the candidates hinges heavily on their votes. As the GOP grows nervous about millennials supporting Clinton, young Republicans try to rally their peers to Trump.
One student at the University of Central Florida understands how important the millennial vote is for the Republican candidate.
“I’m sharing a lot of pictures on Instagram. I’m just trying to keep everyone up to date with what’s going on. It’s the best way to communicate,” he said. “I mean, writing a letter is great; it’s fun. I actually enjoy it. Most millennials, not so much.”
Despite the efforts of young Republicans and a concerned GOP, failing to reach millennials on their own terms to discuss issues they can relate to may prove to be detrimental for Trump.
