Sen. Barack Obama lost the war yesterday in his primary battles in Ohio and Texas with Sen. Hillary Clinton, but he still won the battle for the hearts and votes of the young voters in those states, according to exit-poll data.

In the Texas Democratic primary, voters ages 18--29 continued to overwhelmingly support Obama by a 61 percent to 39 percent. Clinton continued to be a favorite among those 60 and older, leading Obama 63 percent to 36 percent.

The same pattern held true in Ohio, where 65 percent of those ages 17--29 voted for Obama, and 34 percent went for Clinton, who once again rallied the votes of those 60 and older, leading Obama 67 percent to 31 percent.

It's a pattern that Obama has established successfully throughout the campaign process.  Coming into yesterday's contests, Obama has won among 18- to 29-year-olds in every state, garnering 67 percent of their votes in South Carolina, 59 percent in Nevada, 51 percent in New Hampshire and 57 percent in Iowa. Even in Michigan, where only Clinton's name was on the ballot, the majority of the state's young people still voted "uncommitted" rather than for Clinton, reports The Nation.

Dubbed "The Year of the Youth Vote" by TIME, some pundits are indicating the swell at the polls is largely being pushed by young voters. According to Rock the Vote, a nonprofit organization formed in 1990 to mobilize young voters, more than 7 million young adults have cast their ballots in the early contests of the 2008 presidential election, "doubling, tripling, and even quadrupling their turnout in nearly every primary or caucus thus far."

Chrissie Faessen, communications director for Rock the Vote, tells DiversityInc that young people are eager to have their concerns heard in this year's contest and the remaining candidates should ignore them at their own risk.

"Getting the youth vote will be critical for any candidate. Young people make up about one-fifth of the entire electorate, so that's 44-million-people strong this election cycle that can propel candidates to victory," she says. 

Following the Super Tuesday contest, Rock the Vote commissioned the first post--Super Tuesday poll of young adults and found the following:

• Voters younger than 30 named jobs and the economy (17 percent), the war in Iraq (11 percent) and college affordability (10 percent) as their top concerns
• Eighty percent said they are likely to vote in November and 60 percent said they are excited to vote this fall
• When asked about party affiliation, 47 percent identified as Democrats, 28 percent identified as Republicans and 16 percent identified as independent 

And in a general election showdown, 57 percent of those polled said they favor Obama in a contest over Republican nominee John McCain versus 47 percent for Clinton. For more Rock the Vote youth statistics, click here.

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