“A Future to Believe in” For Those Past Their Prime
PORTSMOUTH, NH — The Gymnasium of Great Bay Community College was buzzing with anticipation as passionate supporters awaited the arrival of presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. The room was filled with people decked out head-to-toe in Sanders apparel, college students with brightly colored hair, and boisterous die-hard supporters leading chants.
But the attendees that seemed to stand out the most were the older voters. Senator Sanders is known for attracting a younger crowd, idealists, who don’t have the breadth of political participation experience that older voters have.
The older people who are supporting him feel a connection to Sanders, and described his character as a major reason they believe he should be president.
Dr. Bill Pelton voted for Bernie in his first mayoral election in 1981. When asked why he supported Bernie, Pelton said, “he’s consistent, he’s been saying the same things since ‘81”. Pelton recalls, when he was a student at University of Vermont, Sanders would sometimes play basketball with him and his friends, and that familiarity is part of Sanders appeal: he’s not a politician for politicians, he’s a politician for the people. As a doctor, Pelton supports Sanders single-payer health care plan since as he described, “the drug companies are screwing everyone.”
Across the age spectrum, there is a detectable difference in Sanders’ appeal. While younger voters are drawn to his revolutionary policy ideas, older voters are drawn to his character, and describe Sanders more holistically. No matter the age group, Sanders’ passion, charisma, and determination is a powerful political force.
