Framing Rust Belt GOTV: (grand)Children Are Our Future

Progressive framing guru Jeffrey Feldman has an interesting diary over at Daily Kos in which he discusses a possible frame that the Obama campaign - and independent organizations - can use to convince older rustbelt voters in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Michigan to vote for Obama. In a word, grandchildren:

In particular, I noticed that these districts most likely shared a common commitment to principle that economic security means doing what is necessary to take care one's family--even above and beyond taking care of oneself.

In particular, I suspect that "Emptying Nest" voters share a common, growing interest in the well being of their children's children.

When I tie this back to the current economic collapse, it leads me to wonder if these "Emptying Nests" voters are thinking not just about their savings accounts vanishing and the impact that may have on themselves as middle class retirees, but about the growing danger that their grandchildren may not be able to achieve middle class security in an economy crashed by the unregulated greed of a few at the top.

Feldman comes to this conclusion based on demographic data from a map - Patchwork Nation - researched and published by the Christian Science Monitor. The map breaks down the US into 11 demographic groups, and then marks every US county based on the predominant demographic. What emerged was a profile of the rustbelt that consisted largely of "Empty Nesters," and "Monied Burbs," two demographics whose members are likely concerned with the economic well-being of their children and grandchildren:

It's an interesting idea - make a generational, economic appeal to older voters on behalf of their children and grandchildren. We've already seen that an economic message is the one most likely to resonate with young voters this cycle. As the current economic crisis becomes a larger and larger issue in this campaign, this frame could certainly be an interesting way to solidify and tighten an economic message that appeals to both Obama's young base, and older, middle class voters he still needs to convince.