WaPo: Obama Sees Huge, Positive Swing Among White Youth Over John Kerry's Numbers

The Washington Post is starting a tracking poll today. Chris Cillizza combed through the first day's results to figure out just how strongly Obama is relying on the youth vote to carry him over the finish line, and found a huge swing - from an 18 point deficit to a 5 point advantage - among white youth over John Kerry's 2004 numbers:

Among all 18-29 year olds, Obama holds a wide 64 percent to 33 percent edge over McCain; among white voters aged 18-29 Obama holds a narrower 51 percent to 46 percent margin.

Compare those numbers to Sen. John Kerry's (Mass.) showing among those same demographic groups four years ago and it become readily apparent how central these voters are to Obama's chances at winning.

Kerry won all voters aged 18-29 by a nine points -- 54 percent to 45 percent -- in 2004; among white voters in that demographic Kerry lost by a whopping 58 percent to 40 percent margin to President George W. Bush.

Obama's numbers are also stratospherically stronger than Kerry's among first-time voters -- most but not all of whom are in that under-30 demographic. Obama take nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of first-time voters while McCain enjoys the support of just 26 percent. Four years ago, the race was much closer as Kerry won first time voters by just seven points -- 53 percent to 46 percent -- over Bush.