Jeb Bush is pushing for the millennial vote, but to call him a millennial icon would be a stretch.
A recent campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire focused on millennial outreach, according to ABC News.
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The room packed with young people instead of his typical, older supporters, Bush fielded questions, though they weren’t exactly policy-detailed. The party he’d throw for “young professionals” at the White House, his leadership style, and his favored dinner guests factored into the questioning.
That doesn’t mean he was unappealing, though. Saint Anselm College Freshman Tori Purtell said he had “amazing charisma,” and Saint Anselm Sophomore Tommy Royer said “he seems like a real person.”
Previously, Bush has focused his millennial pitch around his tax plan. The Bush campaign has declared that millennials stand to gain big from a third Bush in the White House. Though unclear, his education plan could appeal to millennials, which might include free community college on the state level.
Bush might have a point, but his poll numbers show that the approach isn’t resonating. Muted support for cheaper higher education and tax reform don’t grab millennials. A new poll from Harvard’s Institute of Politics shows low support among youth voters for Bush. As a first choice, Bush can only garner 6 percent support, which ties support for Rand Paul, and lags behind Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio. As a second choice, he sees a slight increase to 7 percent support, fourth behind Carson, Rubio, and Trump.
Jeb Bush Jr., who chairs the Bush campaign’s youth outreach group called Mission: NEXT, has organized support at 450 college campuses in 45 states, according to ABC News. While impressive, a developed organizational structure hasn’t persuaded millennials to bet on Jeb.
That’s not to say Jeb has permanently lost millennials. The Harvard poll noted that the top concerns for young voters are health care policy, job creation, and education policy. No candidate has assured millennial support, and the Republican nomination is still wide open. Until Bush can connect with the youth on the issues they care about, however, it’s difficult to believe media coverage that touts a strong bond between Jeb and the kids.
