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Young Coloradans toggle between economy, social issues in election

Jabari Smith, organizer with Obama for America in Denver, center, Brian Winstanley, 17, left, and Andrew Schwartz, 16, of East High School check the map for canvassing in Five Points. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)
Jabari Smith, organizer with Obama for America in Denver, center, Brian Winstanley, 17, left, and Andrew Schwartz, 16, of East High School check the map for canvassing in Five Points. (Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post)

For first-time voter Tyler Antikainen, a politically in-tune 19-year-old sophomore at Metropolitan State University of Denver, both presidential candidates offer qualities he describes as essential in leading the country.

To bolster an anemic U.S. economy, he believes Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s business background is an asset. On social issues — particularly support of same-sex marriage — he’s in lock step with President Barack Obama.

“So my feeling is: Do I vote for who might be best for the country economically, or for who I agree with and is open-minded socially? I don’t know,” Antikainen said on a recent afternoon before attending his course on leadership and social change.