April 07, 2005
Deaniacs Get Pewed!
by Liza Sabater
Pew Research Center | The Dean Activists: Their Profile and Prospects
Some points that have caught my eye:
On the social aspect of the internet
One of the most interesting aspects of the Dean campaign was the prevalence of social interaction, paradoxically fostered by what many people consider to be a medium of isolation: the internet. Most Dean activists reported meeting several new people through the campaign, and most who did said they still keep up with at least some of the people they met. Among those who came to know new people through the campaign, 82% said they met at least some of them in person. Majorities also say they would feel comfortable turning to other Dean activists for help with issues or problems in their own community, although only 15% said they would do so for help on a personal problem such as a medical emergency or home repair project.
How they showed their loyalty to the Democratic Party
After Dean's campaign ended, his activist supporters overwhelmingly if somewhat unenthusiastically turned to John Kerry. Throughout the general election campaign, most Democratic voters consistently characterized their vote as being against Bush rather than for Kerry.
Who's to blame for Kerry's loss
A solid majority (56%) also selected "The Bush campaign misrepresented Kerry's record and service in Vietnam" as a very important factor in his defeat. Far fewer Dean activists credited Bush with running a better campaign (33%) or, alternatively, cited shortcomings by Kerry as major factors in his defeat.
A taste for data
Notwithstanding their taste for online news, Dean activists are also more likely than the general public to read not only print newspapers but also news, literary or political magazines, and to watch television talk shows and C-SPAN.
Worshiping at the altar of John Stewart
Regarding comedy shows, the differences run in the opposite direction. Almost four-in-ten Dean activists under 30 (37%) regularly watch the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, compared with 20% of those age 50 and older. This is in keeping with a pattern among the general public (8% among the young watch Stewart compared with 2% or less among older groups). It is notable, however, that even among Dean activists age 65 and over, regular Daily Show viewership, at 13%, is nearly twice that of the youngest age group in the public.
A DailyKos to rule them all
Among blog readers, a third (32%) read the Daily Kos (whose founder has acknowledged he was a paid technical adviser to the Dean campaign) at least occasionally. Of all Dean activists, 19% read this blog. Change for America, founded by Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi after leaving the campaign, is the second most popular with 22% of blog readers and 13% of all Dean activists visiting it.
Early adopters of personal and social networking technology
Dean activists are also more heavily engaged in a wide range of internet activities. Nearly all Dean activists (96%) get news online compared with 73% among all online Americans. A 60% majority has ever read a blog (only 27% in the online general public have done this). As expected, blog readership is highest among the young--73% of activists age 18-29 have ever read someone else's web log, compared to a still significant 45% among those age 65 and older. A majority of Dean activists (55%) say they have rated a product, service, or person using an online rating system, compared with 26% among the online general public. Nearly one-in-five (19%) have created a profile at Friendster.com., an online social network.
Yes, a demographics doozie but is there gender parity?*
Dean activists are a distinctive group within their own party. As a group, they are much more racially homogenous than the general public or Democrats. More than nine-in-ten Dean activists (92%) are white and just 1% are African American. By comparison, the public is 79% white, as are about two-thirds of national Democrats (68%). Over one-in-five Democrats (22%) are African Americans.Dean activists tend to be not only significantly better educated but also wealthier than other Democrats. Nearly one-in-three Dean activists (29%) report a family income of more than $100,000 per year, nearly triple the proportion of all Democrats (10%) who fall into that income bracket. An overwhelming majority (79%) are college graduates; 41% have earned a graduate or professional degree. Just a quarter of all Democrats, and 26% of the public, are college graduates.
Read all of part IV, because it basically describe the Progressive Libertarian movement Chris Nolan has been writing about since Arnold Schwarzenegger won.
Large majorities of Dean activists express support for federal social programs, but a majority (55%) also describe themselves as fiscal conservatives. In terms of personal finances, equal numbers thought of themselves as working class and financially well-off.And despite their liberal leanings, many Dean activists do not let their political views interfere with their personal relationships. More than half (53%) reported that they had a strong friendship with someone (excluding close relatives) who is a supporter of George W. Bush.
UPDATE: Yes, the respondents were almost evenly split. I'll have to look closely at the survey questions and results.
Posted by Liza Sabater in 2004 DNC, 2004 Elections, Activism, Democrats, Howard Dean, Internet, Politics, Social Networks, Web, Young Voters
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Say it loud, say it proud!
Liza,
What do you think the deal is with the disparity in racial numbers? I was quite shocked by them; then again, perhaps I'm just being a dumb white chick on this.
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Comment by: liza at April 7, 2005 02:02 PM
It may have to do with the digital divide. I'd be shocked to think birracial Deaniacs decided to call themselves "white" or if "white" Latinos were counted as such.
I think it has to do with the fact this is the first time since the 60's that a sizable chunk of "young white voters" from as young as 18 up to 30 years old, have been so pro-active politically. So statiscally you would get more white kids going in droves to a campaign.
I don't think though there is a digital divide in terms of access to computers. I think it has to do more with how blacks and latinos use computers on a daily basis. If we can figure out how to use text messaging more effective for campaigning, blogging and news, we'd probably get more black and latino young'uns responding as enthusiastically.
3
Comment by: spyder at April 7, 2005 03:45 PM
Having visited the main site a few times, i found myself put off by the quality of the postings. They are decidedly white(names, level of discourse and topic material as indicative) in terms of locations and numbers. They are decidedly from people who are motivated to use their large amount of free time to engage one another in preaching to their choir. And yes there is a gender parity beyond any expectation for such. But most of it is just Seinfeld yada yada, meet me in my backyard sort of "how cool we are" rhetoric. I was/am disappointed altogether.
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Comment by: lorraine at April 7, 2005 01:52 PM