For the first time in a long while young voters are truly excited about a presidential candidate. Remove the name of presidential hopeful, Barack Obama from the ballot, and you can forget about a second-round blitz at the polls in November by young voters.

This year, about 2.3 million voters younger than 30 participated in 18 Democratic contests, up 170 percent from 2004. In Connecticut's Feb. 5 Democratic primary, the number of voters age 18 to 29 increased nearly 420 percent. Wisconsin had among the lowest increases at 59 percent -- but still saw nearly 54,000 more young voters go to the polls on February, 19.

In the Tennessee primary, young voters quadrupled their turnout in 2000Â rising from 35,000 to nearly 140,000. In Georgia, young voters tripled their turnout this year with more than 280,000 individuals casting a ballot in February of this year compared to approximately 92,000 ballots cast in 2000. And in California, more than 850,000 voters under 30 cast ballots, far surpassing 2000 and 2004 levels.

This type of energy is sure to dissipate in November should Clinton become the Democratic nominee. Neither Clinton nor McCain have placed himself or herself in a position to capture the imaginations of young voters. Clinton, in particular, has sent daughter, Chelsea Clinton, to engage young adult voters. I doubt, however, that Chelsea Clinton's scripted political performances coupled with her refusal to answer media questions are resonating with young voters the way Wil.I.AM's version of Obama's "Yes We Can" speech or his most recent discourse on race in America has.

Young voters flooded the polls to support the candidate they felt best represented their interests. Pledging his allegiance to young voters, Obama skipped last year's AARP convention and has held the bulk of his rallies on college campuses. At age 46, Obama has proved an ambassador for young voters. He represents youth and vitality and most importantly progress.

Certainly, Obama has won the most states and the most pledged delegates, still he has yet to land a knockout blow. The millions of young voters that left work early, skipped class, paused their Sony Playstations and waited in line to vote during the primary and caucus season will only do it again if they are able to see the fruits of their initial labor.

If the superdelegates have the final say on the Democratic nominee, young voters will do what we do best, rebell. I fear mutiny.