I may be a strong Obama supporter, but this is a win for Edwards -- 18-29s will not be 37% of the primary electorate.

by using Facebook or otherwise, that may account for the large number of younger voters.

He did give a great speech, however, in front of a friendly crowd.  Edwards's was more subdued, but from my perspective weighed more heavily on the mind and the conscience.

I agree! There is no way that a large number of people in the 18-29 are going to vote in large number for a party primary. That is just unheard of. No candidate should expect a large number of young voters showing up. I'm a youbg voter myself and most people my age couldnt care less about politics especially primary campaigns of all things. It could happen in the general election though. Campaigns should concentrate on turning out the Latino vote and women voters.

I completely disagree with the assertion that young people won't turn out during the primaries. This is a historic election cycle and all of my friends (I'm a college student) are very excited and energized about voting- in most cases for Obama, but I do know a few Hilary supporters. In 2006 there was an increase in youth turnout and I would expect a similar increase during this cycle. I'm not claiming that younger voters will make up 37% of the electorate in places like Iowa and Florida, but I fully expect the 18-29 demographic to surprise everyone with their turnout and overwhelming support of Barack Obama. I think this may be part of the movement question posed a couple of days ago. I also have doubts about the substance behind Obama's "movement," but if such a movement is in the works, I'm sure the rising generation of voters is integral to it.

Interesting that Richardson is only a point behind Clinton in the 40-49 age group. Richardson is 59; does that make him an "older brother" candidate for the 40-somethings?

Noone seems to know who was able to vote.

http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/a rchives/2007/06/strawpoll.php

"For eons, liberals have dreamed of a straw poll whose meaninglessness could equal that achieved by the Ames Straw Poll on the GOP side. The Politico/Take Back America straw poll doesn't quite reach those lofty heights, but it's the best we've got. At any rate, Barack Obama eked out a narrow victory, though it would be interesting to know how many people got tickets through Obama's TBA Facebook giveaway.

I'd also like to know what proportion of registrants actually voted in the straw poll. Nobody I spoke to at the event seemed to actually be voting, so I think the survey may be meaningless even as a sample of people who attended the conference."

on who was actually eligible to vote? Cant find a thing on the polling company's website or on Politico.

I see the Edwardians and the clintonistaz complaining about Obama bringing in his fans and packing up the place, but i want these haters to answer this to me...Isn't it what straw poll events are all about??..Organizing your supporters and drive them out of their home to show up to vote for you...The candidate that has the most excited supporters to show up eventualy wins.

This is what a "CAUCUS" is all about..Organizing and making your supporters come out for you...This tells me that Obama is by far the most organized Democrats out of all of them...Hillary and Edwards knew they were going to be a straw poll..Did they not bother trying to win this??..I doubt they didnt do anything outreach to their supporters..It's just that Obama has a bigger fanbase...The straw poll is not that important, but as a candidate, you have to try to win it for bragging rights..After all, those people that voted are going to vote in 2008.,,Why did Hillary and Edwards even show up at the event if they didnt bring their supporters with them??.

I seriously doubt that they didnt even attempt to bring out their supporters...I think their supporters didnt come out because they aren't as excited as the obamacrats!...Right now,the Obamocrats are very excited and they came out in small to support barack while Hillary and Edwards supporters did not give a fuck...Maybe they just do not have the support in the D.C area.

Overall, this is a good little victory for Obama....This shows you that his internet voters are nothing like the lazy Howard Dean's Deaniacs...They dont just Blog, but come out of their house to support Obama...That's a great development for team Obama.

not really worth responding to anyone who addresses other members of the community as "Haters".  I will leave you to imagine my thoughtful response in your love filled heart.

Only those officially registered for the conference were allowed to vote, you had to have a # that was given with your registration materials, those with free passes given out by the Presidentials were not allowed to vote, so there was no "ballot stuffing" so to speak.  Turnout was 37% of the registered conference attendees