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Published on: January 24, 2020
Older voters and the 2008 election
1School of Medicine, Room WG-43, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. robert.binstock@case.edu
The Gerontologist
|July 4, 2009
Summary
Older voters favored John McCain in the 2008 election due to Republican leanings and self-identification, unlike younger cohorts. Analysis of voting behavior requires considering cohort effects and candidate characteristics.
Area of Science:
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Demography
Background:
- Older adults (65+) disproportionately voted for John McCain in the 2008 US presidential election.
- This voting pattern contrasted with other age demographics, necessitating an analysis of older persons' voting behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the reasons behind older voters' majority support for John McCain.
- To identify ongoing issues in analyzing the voting behavior of older populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized raw data from the 2008 Edison-Mitofsky national Election Day exit poll.
- Incorporated published compilations of the exit poll data from various media sources.
Main Results:
- Republican leanings of the Eisenhower birth cohort (65+) contributed to McCain's support.
- Voters aged 65-74 showed positive self-identification with McCain, unlike younger or older age groups.
- White voters aged 30+ favored McCain, while the youngest White cohort (18-29) supported Obama.
Conclusions:
- Future studies on age-group voting behavior must consider cohort and period effects.
- Candidate characteristics and campaign issues are crucial factors in understanding voter preferences across age demographics.
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