• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • 5 DOUBLE-U’S
    • MASTHEAD
    • DISTRIBUTION
    • ADVERTISE
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG Year End 2020

DAYS OF OLD: VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE DON’T SEEM TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE AGE OF CANDIDATES

Written by JONATHAN RILEY Posted February 10, 2020 Filed Under: News, NEWS+OPINIONS

PHOTO BY DEREK KOUYOUMJIAN

I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience. -Ronald Reagan

 

After a near tie between Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg in the Iowa caucuses, and with the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primary quickly approaching, the divergences between two apparent frontrunners are coming into clearer focus. One of those, however—their four-decade age difference—may be more important to some voters than others.

 

“I think the reason why you have the two of them up top is you have two candidates who are considered the outsiders,” said Cristiano Sgarbi, 21, a volunteer with the Sanders campaign who took a bus up to Manchester Sunday from Boston, where he studies neuroscience at Northeastern University. “Buttigieg having never worked in Washington; Bernie being the grassroots anti-establishment candidate.”

 

 

“I think young people, a lot of them are not siding with a candidate based on age but more about ideology,” Sgarbi added. “Although, yes, it would be cool to seem like we’re represented by somebody closer to us in age, Bernie somehow manages to feel more relatable at times.”

 

A group of 16 older, self-described “political tourists” from California and Oregon, meanwhile, who made up perhaps a quarter of the crowd at a Buttigieg watch party for the Democratic debate on Friday at the nearby Breezeway Pub in Manchester, were drawn to Mayor Pete because of his relative youth.

 

“Four years ago, we came out for the Republicans and this year we’re here for the Democrats,” said Gayle Leland of Durham, California. Even though everyone in her group was in their 60s or older, Leland said, “we don’t want to vote for any senior candidates, people over 70.”

 

Another member of the West Coast contingent, Stephen Johnson of Chico said he is also supporting Buttigieg.

 

“He seems like he’ll be able to bring the two sides together and compromise,” Johnson said. “He seems like a pretty reasonable guy and I like that he’s young.”

 

PHOTO BY SCOTT MURRY

The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor has “an interesting program,” said Jim Patrick, a GOP-leaning Navy veteran in his ’70s from Orinda, California, who sells office supplies and was visiting New Hampshire as a member of the pro-Buttigieg group at the Breezeway.

 

“Whether it’s viable or not remains to be seen,” he said, “that’s one of the reasons we’re coming to get the flavor of what people think.”

 

Patrick said neither Buttigieg’s age nor his naval service played a major part in his support for the 38-year-old candidate.


“I sort of thought that with Jimmy Carter. Remember Jimmy Carter? He was a nuclear engineer with the nuclear program in the navy. I thought he’d make a great president. I didn’t think it turned out that way,” Patrick said. “I don’t care if they’re young or old, I want them to have a good mind, to be able to have some good policies.”

 

Not all Buttigieg supporters are of retirement age—though perhaps the most talkative are. Several younger Buttigieg fans at the Breezeway were willing to say they were in their 20s or 30s, but did not want to be interviewed. Another group of 50 or more at another debate watch party Friday down the street at the Bookery, a Manchester bookstore, also seemed younger on average. Two Buttigieg volunteers printing up forms to sign up more volunteers at the Bookery watch party, however, while willing to say they were “just out of college,” did not want to comment further, referring me to their “comms team.”

 

Nancy Brennan, an older Sanders supporter and retired high school theater teacher who is originally from Massachusetts but now lives in Weare, New Hampshire, was demonstrating Saturday in support of Sanders outside the Southern New Hampshire University Arena. She had heard from Buttigieg supporters that his age is part of his appeal.

 

“My impression of Pete is that he’s one of those politicians that tries to say what he thinks people want to hear,” Brennan said. “I’ve talked to a lot of people because I’ve done a lot of canvassing, and a lot of the people that like Pete, they like him because he’s young. That’s what they like. They say Bernie’s too old.”

 

PHOTO BY DEREK KOUYOUMJIAN

 

Steve Denis, a 23-year-old who is originally from Rhode Island but lives in Manchester, where he teaches business classes, was also demonstrating in support of Sanders on Saturday, and said Buttigieg’s age was not the most important factor in deciding who to vote for.

 

“When he got in the race I was excited to be seeing another young guy who had some, you know, unpopular ideas like abolishing the Electoral College, but the second you start taking money from corporate interests, you’re out of it for me,” Denis said. “When you’re doing fundraisers in wine caves and have 40 billionaires on your side, I would say that’s establishment.”

 

Sgarbi, the 21-year-old Sanders volunteer, acknowledged that Sanders’ health is a concern for some voters due to his age, but not for him.

 

“Like people say as well, age is just a number, so I think, you know, he’s healthy now and I think if he felt there was any possibility of him not being able to serve to the best of his ability in the next five years, let’s say, he would’ve dropped out and he wouldn’t be running at all,” Sgarbi said.

 

“Despite him being so old, he’s a man on a mission, and he really seems like the last standing figure of real change that I want to follow.”


This article was produced by the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism as part of its Manchester Divided coverage of political activity around New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary. Follow our coverage @BINJreports on Twitter and at binjonline.org/manchesterdivided, and if you want to see more citizens agenda-driven reporting you can contribute at givetobinj.org.

JONATHAN RILEY

Jonathan Riley is a contributing writer to DigBoston and a staff writer at the Morning Sun newspaper in Pittsburg, Kansas.

More from author
  • JONATHAN RILEY
    https://digboston.com/author/jonathan-riley/
    BY LEARNING ABOUT THE MASS MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX, I CAME TO UNDERSTAND MY GRANDFATHER
  • JONATHAN RILEY
    https://digboston.com/author/jonathan-riley/
    KILL WHITEY: A LOOK BACK AT WHY THE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE WANTED BULGER DEAD MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE
  • JONATHAN RILEY
    https://digboston.com/author/jonathan-riley/
    SPECIAL FEATURE: CRIPPLED EPISTEMOLOGY
  • JONATHAN RILEY
    https://digboston.com/author/jonathan-riley/
    CRITICAL UPDATE: LOBOTOMASS CONT.

Filed Under: News, NEWS+OPINIONS Tagged With: 2020 Election, Activism, Amy Klobuchar, Andrew Yang, Bernie Sanders, campaign finance, candidates, cannabis, caregiving, Citizens Agenda, Citizens United, criminal justice, death penalty, Deval Patrick, Donald Trump, Election 2020, Elizabeth Warren, engagement, firearms, Granny D, gun control, gun rights, guns, immigration, income inequality, Joe Biden, law enforcement, Life Without Parole, local media, LWOP, Manchester Divided, Michael Bloomberg, Michael Moore, money in politics, New Hampshire, New Hampshire Rebellion, Pete Buttigieg, police brutality, Politics, primaries, Primary, religion, SCOTUS, Shaskeen Pub, socialism, taxes, Tom Steyer, town halls, voter rights

WHAT’S NEW

DEAR GLOBE READERS LAUNCHES AS PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN

DEAR GLOBE READERS LAUNCHES AS PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN

SOULDIER STORY: JOEL MASSICOT ON MIXING MARTIAL ARTS, DANCE, AND MILITARY INFLUENCES

SOULDIER STORY: JOEL MASSICOT ON MIXING MARTIAL ARTS, DANCE, AND MILITARY INFLUENCES

THE END OF THE WORLD IN AN AIRBNB

THE END OF THE WORLD IN AN AIRBNB

MEETING THREATS WITH HOPE AND COURAGE

MEETING THREATS WITH HOPE AND COURAGE

TITANIC SHIFTS: DEMS SWAP DECK CHAIRS AMIDST GOP-PROVOKED TSUNAMI

TITANIC SHIFTS: DEMS SWAP DECK CHAIRS AMIDST GOP-PROVOKED TSUNAMI

NEARLY A YEAR INTO PANDEMIC, MASS CATS ARE STILL SHORT ON FOOD

NEARLY A YEAR INTO PANDEMIC, MASS CATS ARE STILL SHORT ON FOOD

Primary Sidebar

HEMPIRE FREEDOM PACK 25% OFF

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • APPOINTED SOMERVILLE OFFICIAL SPURS OUTRAGE WITH TWEETS FROM DC MOB SCENE by MARC LEVY
  • Aerial View Parkman Bandstand at Boston Common. CC BY-SA 4.0 2017 by AbhiSuryawanshi. NO HONEYMOON FOR BIDEN: 1/20 PROTEST ON BOSTON COMMON, 4 PM by MATTHEW ANDREWS
  • VIDEO: COP WHO BRAGGED THAT HE HIT PROTESTERS SHOWS HOW BAD APPLES THRIVE IN BOSTON by CHRIS FARAONE
  • PRISON HORRORS BY THE NUMBERS by SARAH BETANCOURT
  • IT’S HARDER THAN EVER TO FIND A BATHROOM IN BOSTON. WHAT’S THE CITY DOING ABOUT IT? by ZACK HUFFMAN

READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

DIG Member 1.9 – 11/26/20

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG Year End 2020

Footer

digbos

“It started as a vision I had while listening to “It started as a vision I had while listening to the song over and over again during the early stages of the quarantine.” https://digboston.com/the-quins-talk-making-awesome-videos-in-quarantine/ #interview #video #music #art #arts #Boston #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
“We were all caught pretty off guard when the pa “We were all caught pretty off guard when the pandemic hit, but I think that using the resources that we have available to us we have been able to meet the demand at every step.” https://digboston.com/handling-the-herd-how-boston-built-its-massive-covid-testing-apparatus/ #politics #Boston #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker started the new year Republican Gov. Charlie Baker started the new year by vetoing a sweeping #climate change bill. https://digboston.com/titanic-shifts-dems-swap-deck-chairs-amidst-gop-provoked-tsunami/ #politics #news #Democrats #GOP #Boston #Massachusetts #USA #veto
“Trump was voted out. However, this is not a man “Trump was voted out. However, this is not a mandate for #Biden and #Harris.” https://digboston.com/photos-recap-no-honeymoon-for-biden-rally-in-boston/ #photo #rally #march #left #protest #inauguration #Boston #Massachusetts
OPINION: IS DISSENT ANTI-NATIONALISM OR PATRIOTISM OPINION: IS DISSENT ANTI-NATIONALISM OR PATRIOTISM? #Boston #protest for Indian farmers, Saturday 1/23/21, 12-1 pm at the #Massachusetts State House https://digboston.com/opinion-is-dissent-anti-nationalism-or-patriotism/ #India #politics #food #farmer #protest #justice #solidarity @monica_gill1
HOW ONE MASS TOWN TOOK EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO A HOW ONE MASS TOWN TOOK EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES TO APPEASE A CONTROVERSIAL COP https://digboston.com/no-justice-how-officials-in-one-mass-town-took-extraordinary-measures-to-appease-a-controversial-cop/ #ArlingtonMA #police #reform #cop #racism #controversy #BlackLivesMatter #Massachusetts
Ghost kitchens simply don’t have a need for host Ghost kitchens simply don’t have a need for hosts, servers, bartenders, bussers … What happens to those #jobs if virtual kitchens continue to flourish? https://digboston.com/ghost-story-virtual-kitchens-appear-to-be-the-next-big-thing-but-at-what-cost/ #restaurant #labor #work #Boston #Massachusetts #coronavirus #COVID19
“I don’t think we’re going to wake up on Jan “I don’t think we’re going to wake up on Jan. 7 in the same country we went to bed in on the 6th.” https://digboston.com/former-mass-gubernatorial-candidate-predicted-violence-before-assault-on-capitol/ #politics #Massachusetts #national #Capitol #WashingtonDC #MAGA
RADICAL AND RELEVANT: THE LIFE OF HARRY BRILL http RADICAL AND RELEVANT: THE LIFE OF HARRY BRILL https://digboston.com/radical-and-relevant-the-life-of-harry-brill/ #obituary #organizer #radical #sociologist #democracy #politics @UMassBoston @BklynCollege411 @UCBerkeley #Boston #Massachusetts #NewYorkCity #Berkeley #California
NO HONEYMOON FOR BIDEN: 1/20 #PROTEST ON BOSTON CO NO HONEYMOON FOR BIDEN: 1/20 #PROTEST ON BOSTON COMMON, 4 PM https://digboston.com/no-honeymoon-for-biden-1-20-protest-on-boston-common-4-pm/ #opinion #progressive #left #action #inauguration #Boston #Massachusetts
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Submissions

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]