The following groups showed the highest levels of excitement about the election: African Americans, Asians, and, to a lesser extent, Latinos; Democrats, especially strong Democrats; and people with more years of education, also showed the highest levels of excitement. The Millennials were more excited than older Americans. Their lead in excitement was not statistically significant, but they were significantly less likely than older people to be frustrated.6

Attitudes toward the Election, by Generation
Even when we account for race/ethnicity, age, education, and party identification, we find that people who are more engaged in the election are also more excited about it. Political activism, political discussion, and trusting the government and the media are all more common among the excited people.7 It may be that political activism and discussion make people more excited and trusting of institutions, or that excitement and trust lead them to engage, or both.

However, online engagement and civic activities, such as volunteering, do not predict a positive attitude toward the 2008 campaign, once we account for other factors. Our statistical model suggests that a young person who leans Democratic in this election season will be enthusiastic regardless of whether he or she uses online tools.

Consistent with news reports about the election, we found strong partisan differences when we conducted the survey in July (before the political conventions and shortly after Hillary Clinton had suspended her campaign): 32% of Democrats stated that the 2008 campaign was “exciting,” as compared to 9% of Republicans and 14% of Independents. On the other hand, 58% of Republicans described the same campaign as frustrating compared to only 34% of Democrats and 45% of independents. This, however, is a finding that may change rapidly during the presidential campaign season, and we were unable to ask follow-up questions to illuminate the underlying causes of their frustration.