Young voter group: 'Sold on election pick'

— -- Justin Baines, 22, of North Hollywood, Calif., cast the first presidential ballot of his life in 2004 for Democrat John Kerry, but this year he's supporting Republican John McCain.

"I believe Democrats are best with home issues and Republicans with foreign policy issues," he says, "and I think we have to pay more attention to foreign policy now because of all the hostility in the world" toward the United States.

Count Baines among the "fired up," a group that includes 29% of Americans under 30 — the voters most likely to turn out for a rally and volunteer for a campaign. Everyone in this group is registered to vote and paying a great deal of attention to the election. They are the most firmly committed to a candidate.

They not only like their choice; they distrust his opponent. Fewer than one in 10 say they might change their minds about whom to support before Election Day, the lowest of any group.

This is the oldest group among the four categories of younger voters — most are over 24 — and has the highest annual income; 18% make $75,000 a year or more. It has the highest percentage of women and of African Americans.

The "fired up" category includes both the most Democrats (50%) and the most conservatives (40%) of any group — a sign that its ranks include many with the most fully formed and strongly held points of view.

Members of this group support Barack Obama over McCain, 65%-33%.

They are the most likely of any of the four groups to say their parents have influenced their outlook. Six in 10 say their folks have had a great deal or moderate amount of influence on their political views. Nearly half cite their friends as influences, too.

These younger Americans see the election as having significant consequences for them personally. Six in 10 say their lives will be "greatly affected" if Obama wins. Half say a McCain victory would have such an impact.

Baines, who works as a financial planner, disagrees with McCain on such social issues as same-sex marriage and abortion rights, but he supports the Arizona senator as a strong leader he can count on to keep the nation safe. He doesn't have that faith in Obama.