General Discussion

xchrom

(108,903 posts) Wed Mar 28, 2012, 10:35 AM Mar 2012

Just How Independent Are Independent Voters?

http://www.wbur.org/npr/149402358/just-how-independent-are-independent-voters

?t=1332870866&s=4
Voters cast ballots in Dearborn, Mich. Some political analysts say truly independent voters account for just 10 percent to 15 percent of the electorate. (Paul Sancya / AP)

Lester Wilson doesn't think of himself as a Republican or a Democrat. He's not a card-carrying Libertarian or Green, either.

The one group he does belong to is the 40 percent of Americans who identify as independents — a group now larger than any single political party, according to a recent Gallup survey.

"I like my independent status. I think voting for just one party is a betrayal of my civic duty," says the 38-year-old maintenance worker from Asheville, N.C.

There's a lot of talk this election cycle about how important independents will be in deciding the November presidential election and which candidate will win their votes.

7 replies

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Just How Independent Are Independent Voters? (Original Post) xchrom Mar 2012 OP

I am an independant voter Marrah_G Mar 2012 #1

They lean a tad republican zipplewrath Mar 2012 #2

After Nixon resigned everyone I knew who wasn't a Democrat were claiming to be Independents NNN0LHI Mar 2012 #3

I saw those crappy plastic "booths" in the gym and said "That must be Michigan!" Demeter Mar 2012 #4

... xchrom Mar 2012 #5

I have found that mactime Mar 2012 #6

When the Tea Party was first gearing up a few years ago. raouldukelives Mar 2012 #7

Marrah_G

(28,581 posts)

1. I am an independant voter

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Wed Mar 28, 2012, 10:38 AM

Mar 2012

I changed my party status a year or so ago.

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)

2. They lean a tad republican

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Wed Mar 28, 2012, 10:38 AM

Mar 2012

I suspect you'll find alot of "moderate" republicans registering as independents. Any analysis of their voting patterns would reveal ALOT of GOP votes. If there is anything common among these voters, it is probably the tendency to vote against incumbents when they are pissed, and for them when they are scared or complacent. Which explains BOTH Bush I and II.

NNN0LHI

(67,190 posts)

3. After Nixon resigned everyone I knew who wasn't a Democrat were claiming to be Independents

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Wed Mar 28, 2012, 10:39 AM

Mar 2012

Nixon had just won by a landslide a little earlier and yet I couldn't find one person who claimed to be a Republican.

Don

Demeter

(85,373 posts)

4. I saw those crappy plastic "booths" in the gym and said "That must be Michigan!"

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Wed Mar 28, 2012, 10:40 AM

Mar 2012

I can put those up or down in seconds...as I do every election I work the polls...

xchrom

(108,903 posts)

5. ...

Reply to Demeter (Reply #4)

Wed Mar 28, 2012, 10:43 AM

Mar 2012

mactime

(202 posts)

6. I have found that

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Wed Mar 28, 2012, 11:15 AM

Mar 2012

the majority of independents are republicans that are not very religious. Conservative on foreign issues and taxes but not overly concerned about abortion, marriage equality etc

raouldukelives

(5,178 posts)

7. When the Tea Party was first gearing up a few years ago.

Reply to xchrom (Original post)

Wed Mar 28, 2012, 11:50 AM

Mar 2012

I talked with a few of them. Hardcore Republican mindsets. Yet everyone of them claimed to be an independent that never voted for Bush. Finding a W voter ain't easy. Still haven't figured out how he won twice if nobody voted for him. Maybe they did and just feel guilty about telling me. Lord knows I would.

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