DR has commented previously on the view that youth are becoming conservative. DR, countering this view, has pointed out the following: (1) the political views of youth (defined here as ages 18-29) on various policy issues–not just social, but also many economic ones–are actually relatively liberal; (2) youth have voted more pro-Democratic than the population as a whole for the last six elections, including the election of 2002; and (3) youth in the post-2002 period appear to be less supportive of Bush and his re-election than the population as a whole (some supporting data may be found here).

Recently released Gallup data are consistent with point (1) about youth’s relatively liberal political views, but raise questions with point (3) about youth’s relative disaffection with Bush. However, recent Pew Research Center data contradict the Gallup data on youth’s views toward Bush and, consistent with earlier data, suggest that youth are, indeed, less supportive of Bush’s re-election than the population as a whole.

Start with youth’s political views. The self-described ideological views of youth in the Gallup data are more liberal on both social and ideological issues. On social issues, youth are more liberal than their elders by 4 points (7 points less conservative) and on economic issues are 12 points more liberal than their elders (13 points less conservative).

Despite these views–according to the Gallup data–youth are 9 points more likely than their elders to approve of Bush’s job performance and registered young voters give Bush a wider lead against a generic Democratic candidate (10 points) than their elders do (4 points).

Somewhat puzzling, if true, especially in light of earlier age breaks DR has seen on this question, which have generally shown youth exceptionally likely not to support Bush. Further questions on the Gallup results here are raised by poll results reported in the Pew study cited above. According to the study, Pew polls in September and October of this year–very close in time to the Gallup poll under discussion–found youth supporting an unnamed Democrat by 20 points, while their elders supported Bush by 4 points.

Youth: still progressive after all these years? Maybe so.