High unemployment, stagnant financial markets, and general economic insecurity are taking their toll on Democratic loyalty, particularly among the nation's youth.

A New York Times article Thursday says Democrats are losing ground where they once claimed a strong foothold -- with young adults.

From the Times:

The college vote is up for grabs this year -- to an extent that would have seemed unlikely two years ago, when a generation of young people seemed to swoon over Barack Obama.

Though many students are liberals on social issues, the economic reality of a weak job market has taken a toll on their loyalties: far fewer 18- to 29-year-olds now identify themselves as Democrats compared with 2008.

“Is the recession, which is hitting young people very hard, doing lasting or permanent damage to what looked like a good Democratic advantage with this age group?” asked Scott Keeter, the director of survey research at the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan group. “The jury is still out.”