New Hampshire Independents Could Boost Kasich, Sanders

Some voters are crossing party lines in the Live Free or Die state.

February 9, 2016

Nearly half the voters in New Hampshire's presidential primaries Tuesday aren't registered in either political party, and that could be good news for Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Kasich has built his appeal in New Hampshire around a Midwest-sensible persona and tight-fisted fiscal record that many independents love. These undeclared voters are why some predict Kasich could pull off a strong finish here even without the star-power of Donald Trump or the youthful appeal of Marco Rubio.

“He’s not bad-mouthing anybody,” said Suzanne Appleton, 76, who isn’t registered with a political party and usually supports Democrats but is backing Kasich this time. “He’s just saying, ‘You know, there’s a job to be done, and let's just do it.’”

Forty-four percent of voters in the nation's first primary state are independents, up from 40 percent in 2008, according to the secretary of state. They're allowed to vote in either party's primary on Election Day, which could give them significant clout if they weighed in on a Republican contest where at least four candidates are clustered behind Trump for second place.

“It’s a factor that’s gotten bigger every cycle, and it shows no signs of slowing down,” said Steve Koczela, who's surveyed New Hampshire independents as president of MassINC Polling Group and found Kasich and Sanders buoyed by the most favorable perceptions among these voters in a mid-January WBUR poll.

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-02-09/new-hampshire-independents-could-boost-kasich-sanders