We all remember the excitement and fervor that led up to the historic election of our first African-American president. Barack Obama had it all: He was witty, well-spoken and appealed to younger voters who longed to see real change. This secular messiah of the Democratic Party was supposed to bring sweeping reforms and rush in a post-partisan, post-racial era to signal a new Golden Age of this great American experiment.
Although he is barely through his second year in office, many are ready to christen the president as a false prophet rather than a man of messianic proportions. His high-flying speeches have led to many big promises not being kept and many high expectations not being met. As a result, his party is embattled and stands to lose a majority of their seats in both houses of Congress. Thus, one need not look far to see one of the major differences between the president's historic 2008 campaign and this year's midterm elections: enthusiasm. Whereas crowds of college students flooded voting booths to usher in this new age, now stand the excited masses of conservatives and Tea Partiers who long to "stand athwart history yelling 'stop'" as their hero, William F. Buckley, Jr., would say. So do Republicans really have the enthusiasm edge or has the demise of the Democratic Party been greatly exaggerated?
According to a recent CNN poll, 74 percent of Tea Partiers and 57 percent of Republicans consider themselves "extremely enthusiastic" about the upcoming midterm elections as opposed to 43 percent of Democrats. This is believed to be the root cause of the Democratic Party's fall from grace among the American people. In 2008, one of Obama's strengths was energizing the youth vote. Optimistic college students brimming with confidence and vigor were viewed to be the enlightened few who would finally ward off the specter of racial strife by electing the first African-American president.
But as government debt has grown, the economy has floundered and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have continued, many show traces of disappointment with the man and the party who promised so much. College Republicans President Loren Monk says, "There is undoubtedly an enthusiasm gap between young Democrats and Republicans nationwide. Republicans are fearful of a growing national debt and are disappointed with the fact that jobs have not been created over the past two years. Young Republicans are much more likely to turn out to the polls during this year's midterm elections demanding a change in Washington." This sounds rather familiar. Whereas in 2008, Democrats were the ones demanding change, in 2010 Republicans are the ones longing for it. Where once "Hope" T-shirts and "Yes we can" slogans dominated Grounds, we begin to see "Don't tread on me" stickers and pins take over. But there is still a strong contingent of Democrats dead set to "rage against the dying of the light."
Adam Gillenwater, president of the University Democrats, is skeptical of this disparity in enthusiasm. He says, "I don't buy into the argument that there is an enthusiasm gap this election cycle... With University students becoming more aware of just how close the race in the Fifth Congressional District is... we're seeing an increased level of student engagement and excitement. I expect student turnout to make the difference on Election Day and I'm confident that the University can once again push Congressman Perriello over the top." Gillenwater is definitely right: The Fifth District race is pretty close. Whereas some polls have shown Robert Hurt with a 23-point lead, others have him sporting a measly 1-point lead. There is still a strong contingent of Democrats who are urging the American people to keep calm and carry on with the current government, stressing the need for patience as the slow churning wheels of government grind on. One thing Democrats can look to for solace is history.
These midterm elections are shaping up to be a repeat of the 1994 midterms where Republicans won massive gains in both Houses against an embattled Democratic Party struggling with another poor economy. Talk began of Bill Clinton being limited to one term. We all remember how that turned out. For Democrats, there is still some faint semblance of "hope" in the long run.
As Tea Partiers party on, Democrats long to recapture the magic of '08. It is evident, however, that Republicans still have an edge in the all-important enthusiasm column. It's their countless rallies and voter drives that headline your evening news in lieu of yet another Obama pep talk. Both sides wait breathlessly for the results tonight - in hope that the Republicans will retake the reins or the damage will be mitigated and Obama will be given a second chance. But we should all step back and curb our enthusiasm a little bit. After all, when was the last time politicians actually solved our problems anyway?
Pietro Sanitate is a Viewpoint writer for The Cavalier Daily.
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