There are a few ways to entice young people to support causes they're less than enthusiastic about. The promise of free food is one. But what about promising free college?
Hillary Clinton certainly thinks that might work. As she edges out Republican nominee Donald Trump in a tight race (I cannot fathom WHY the polls show this, but I digress), Secretary Clinton is looking to gain more support among millennial voters as the weeks wear on. With only 30-something days until the presidential election, Secretary Clinton is enlisting the big guns to draw in more eligible voters. Her secret weapon? None other than her former opponent, Bernie Sanders.
As student loan debt has increased exponentially over the last decade, it's become a major point of contention with many young voters. In fact, many millennials plan their entire lives around their student loan debt, putting off purchasing houses and cars, even opting to live with their parents longer than other generations. Research suggests a debt-free college solution is one of the only things millennials may agree on across political lines (I mean, raise your hand if you have over $20,000 in student loan debt? What about $40K? Where are my $80,000 and highers? We're really all in this together, people). During his time on the campaign trail, Sanders promised debt-free public education and refinancing for those already in debt, winning over millennial voters by the thousands. Clinton is looking to tap into exactly this base with her plan for debt-free education.
However, there are already obvious differences between Clinton's plan and Sanders' former plan. For instance, Clinton promises free college for people whose parents earn under $125,000 a year, but under the condition that the student works 10 hours a week and uses the funds toward their tuition. Sanders' plan had no such strings, instead promising the funds would come from taxing Wall Street. In addition, Clinton may have fumbled the ball by not presenting this part of her platform to the actual youth she's trying to capture. Fortune reports while Clinton and Sanders spoke at the University of New Hampshire at Durham, they spoke mostly to a middle-aged crowd—not necessarily the ones concerned about student loan debt.
But even with this shift and addition of Sanders to the campaign trail, Secretary Clinton might still have trouble adding millennial voters to her fanbase. While she does seem prepared for the job and is undoubtedly the most qualified for the job, many young voters see her as dubious, citing her infamously racist "superpredators" statement and her email scandal. In an after game interview, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said, "At this point, you have to choose the lesser of two evils but in the end, it's still evil." Others seem to agree, once responding to her nomination with the hashtag #IGuessImWithHer. Many others have decided to vote for third party candidates like the Green Party's Dr. Jill Stein and Libertarian's Gary Johnson.
Between interviews with Mary J. Blige and promised Pusha T concerts and this latest event, it's a little too obvious that Secretary Clinton is fishing HARD for the millenial vote. But the question still remains whether or not she will get it. Only time will tell. Fingers crossed, Hil. I think we're all in for a bumpy ride.
Check out the entire rally here.