Presidential Candidates Reach Out To Young Voters

In the midst of a drawn-out presidential campaign, Democratic senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, both vying for their party's nomination, are courting young voters.

They both appeared on Stephen Colbert's satirical news show, "The Colbert Report," which is immensely popular with the young demographic. Choosing to appear on "The Colbert Report" may have proven to be a wise decision for the candidates, because a recent study, to be published in an upcoming issue of PS: Political Science & Politics, has confirmed that the purported "Colbert Bump" actually exists.

"Democrats who appeared on the show raised about 44 percent more money after their appearance than they did before. Republicans, on the other hand, didn't fare as well after their Colbert appearance. Their appearance either had no effect, or a slightly negative one," according to a LiveScience article.

Thus, Republican nominee John McCain might want to steer clear of "The Colbert Report."

Obama has also drawn the attention of younger voters by making a reference to a popular Jay-Z song in a recent speech. In describing how presidential candidates need to overcome negative attacks, he motioned as though he was brushing something off his shoulders, an apparent reference to the Jay-Z song "Dirt Off Your Shoulder." Ben Smith of Politico called the allusion a "generational dog whistle," meaning that it's a reference that only young voters will be able to understand.