THE NATIONAL SCENE

The numbers are still coming in, but we know one thing: Tuesday's dramatic victory can be credited to one group: Young Democrats!

• Young people, ages 18-29, increased their turnout to at least 24%, up from 21% in 2002. (This number is bound to rise as new data is analyzed and provisionals/absentees are counted.)
• In raw numbers, that means 10 million of us voted - 2 million more than the last midterm midtacular.
• The youth share of the vote is up two percent to a full 13% of the electorate. This is a record breaking number.
• And who did young people vote for? By a 2-1 margin, they voted blue! Young people voted Democratic more than any other age group by a substantial amount.

BOTTOM LINE: With so many close races - it's crystal clear: This is the Young Democrat Revolution.

HERE AT HOME

The Pennsylvania Young Democrats claim this victory as our own. Several months ago, PAYD President Yarone Zober and I fought to bring back the Young Voter program to Pennsylvania. This proven peer-to-peer field effort brought $60,000 into the 4th and 8th Congressional Districts to boost young turnout. Let us repeat our mantra: When young people vote, Democrats win.

Guess what? Defying all conventional wisdom, the unanimous voice of the pundits and the plethora of polls - Jason Altmire and Patrick Murphy won in very tight races!

CNN exit polls tell us that in House races in the East, 18-29 year olds voted by a staggering 50% margin for the Democratic candidate. Almost 10% higher than any other age group. And when you have 2 candidates who won by such narrow amounts, you see our point: Young Democrats provided the margin of Victory for Altmire and Murphy!

We can say this with confidence as we extrapolate results from the Rendell and Casey wins. Both Democrats won the 18-29 vote 68% to the Republicans' 32%. No other age group demonstrated these kind of numbers - the next closest age group performed a full 10% lower.

Want more proof? Look no further than the University of Pittsburgh voting precinct (Pgh Ward 4 - District 8) where 740 18-29 year olds voted. That's more than 80% higher turnout that 4 years ago! Repeat: an 80% increase!!!! And who did they vote for? 81% for Bob Casey and 77% for Ed Rendell.

Remarkable.

But the most remarkable fact of all from YDA: Research tells us that if a person votes for a Party three times in a row, they become a Party voter for life. Young people voted for Democrats in 2004 and now in 2006.

2008 is a call to PAYD and candidates to target and turn-out young people once again in order to build a solid bloc of Democratic voters for years to come. The planning begins today. And we need your help!

THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS:
I can't let this moment pass without thanking some very important people. This victory would not be possible without: Maeve Kelly - President of the PA College Democrats -Maeve stands in a class of her own for her tireless efforts on behalf of our candidates and our generation. Thank you Maeve!

Christina Stacey - PAYD National Committeewoman & Altmire Campaign Manager

Yesenia Rosado - PAYD VP & Rendell Campaign Montgomery Co. Director

PAYD/PACD Board Members and Regional Coordinators

Rachael Heisler - Pitt College Dem President & Casey Pgh Vol Coordinator

Steph Odell - PA State Campaign Director

Kristyn Stewart, Laurel Schwartz and Ericka Owens - Regional Field Directors

Pitt College Dems - invaluable partners

Penn College Dems and Central Bucks HS Dems - Patrick Murphy's winning team

Clayton Wukich - our Top Ally and Chief Consigliere

Lazar Palnick and Evan Segal - our Heroes

Chris Heinz and Congressman Mike Doyle - our Icons

Art DeCoursey, Don Morabito and Jim Burn - our Mentors

Governor Ed Rendell - our Best Friend

Want to join the Young Democrat Revolution? Please give us a call or drop us an email.

- Paul McKrell

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