- Young, college-educated and minority voters formed the backbone of Obama’s majority in 2008, helping to put once reliably Republican states in the democratic column
Washington (CNN)Hillary Clinton’s moment of truth with the Obama coalition is fast approaching -- and she has work to do.
The Democratic nominee’s effort to win over voters who twice put Barack Obama in the White House -- and who represent her best chance of victory in November -- will reach new intensity this week in the run-up to her first crucial debate clash in seven days.
Young, college-educated and minority voters formed the backbone of Obama’s majority in 2008, helping to put once reliably Republican states like Virginia and North Carolina in the Democratic column and shore up the battered incumbent in swing states like Ohio and Florida in 2012.
But recent polls indicate the race tightened dramatically in recent weeks, with GOP nominee Donald Trump on a roll.
They suggest that Clinton is lagging behind Obama with younger voters and that she has failed to kindle the enthusiasm that drove them to the polls four and eight years ago.
Questions are also mounting about the scale of likely turnout among black and Hispanic voters, who are expected to vote disproportionately for Clinton but could let her down if they do not show up in sufficient numbers in battleground states.
Obama delivered a direct appeal to these voters over the weekend at the Congressional Black Caucus dinner where he made a passionate plea to his supporters to show up in November for Clinton.
After appealing to forums of African-American and Hispanic leaders in recent days, Clinton will travel to crucial Pennsylvania on Monday to highlight the stakes for millennials.
She previewed the likely thrust of her remarks last week in North Carolina in a more personal, emotive stump speech that she retooled while laid up with pneumonia.
“I am running for young people like so many of you here who dream of changing our world for the better,” Clinton said.
In that speech, the Democratic nominee also reached out to other sectors of the Obama coalition, including LGBT voters, African Americans and those who secured health care under the current president.
Clinton’s running mate, Virginia Sen.
Tim Kaine, made a forceful push for millennial votes on NBC’s “Meet the Press” last Sunday, arguing that on the issues young people care about most, like climate change, women’s health, college affordability, immigration reform and LGBT equality, there was only one possible choice in November.
“It’s on our shoulders to make the case.
But on at least five litmus test issues, the differences between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are vast,” Kaine said.
Clinton’s need to improve her standing among young voters has become apparent in recent polling.
A Quinnipiac University poll this month found that Clinton was backed by 31% of voters aged 18-34 while 29% favored Trump.
But 44% of that group said they would vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson or Green Party leader Jill Stein.
Other polls have also shown Clinton needing to improve her standing among the younger demographic.
If she does not, it could harm her election chances because she is far more dependent on the youth vote than Trump, as the core Republican vote skews much older.
A CNN/ORC poll last week had Clinton leading Trump by 54% to 29% among voters under the age of 45.
But she’s running behind Obama, who beat Romney 60% to 37% among the same group in 2012.
While the former secretary of state has work to do to electrify the Democratic coalition, she could not have better allies.
Most prominently, Obama himself, enjoying some of the best approval ratings of his presidency, is emerging as a passionate, adamant fighter for her cause.
First lady Michelle Obama is also taking on a key role.
Following her acclaimed speech at the Democratic National Convention, she told young voters in Virginia last week that their choice in November would decide whether they could afford a college education and keep their health care when they graduate.
Even Clinton’s bitter primary rival, Bernie Sanders, who became a rock star on college campuses and among young voters, is beginning to become more prominent as an advocate warning of the dangers of a Trump presidency.