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Reporting from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions
Amid partisan convention, group calls for lowering the temperature — or else risk losing young people
(audio and video versions)
Story by Alexa Bonilla with additional video by Jordan Cooper
July 18, 2024, 8:50 a.m. — National conventions, by nature, are as partisan as it gets. But harsh rhetoric can be a turnoff for many voters, including young people. The University of Chicago's Institute of Politics is advocating for a different approach.
LOWER THIRDS
0:04 — Edward X. Young, New Jersey delegate
0:16 — Andre Soriano, Virginia alternate delegate
0:29 — Heidi Heitkamp, U. of Chicago Institute of Politics
0:59 — Alexa Bonilla, reporter
TRT: 1:45
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Some republicans are pretty clear about their feelings toward the other party.
Young: The democrats have become a dangerous, violent homicidal, evil and they are a threat to democracy, they’re threat to the world.
And others have their minds made up about democratic president, Joe Biden.
Soriano: I think they just have to put him into a hosp- not hospice but a convalescent home, he needs to retire that’s like elderly abuse.
That mindset doesn’t typically attract young voters.
Heitkamp: We have to learn how to disagree on principal issues without inciting violence or without unnecessarily demonizing our opponents.
While Heidi Heitkamp served as a us senator from North Dakota she was known as a moderate who worked across party lines. Now as the director of the university of Chicago institute of politics, she exposes students to different perspectives and people, especially when they feel uninspired.
Heitkamp: the politics are just who’s worse as opposed to this is my great idea. I think young people get turned off.
Heitkamp offers one possible solution - final five voting. This would create one preliminary election instead of party primaries. The top five candidates move on to the general election, where voters rank them to determine the winner. It’s a way to offer choice.
Heitkamp: that’s the frustration people have they say look at these candidates and say who do i think would be a good president and they don't see someone.
In the meantime, what should undecided voters do?
Heitkamp: My advice is to sit down and make a list of what kind of country you want to live in what do you want our country to be what's your hopes for your family for your future make a list then think about how important who governs us is to that list.
In Milwaukee, Alexa Bonilla.