"According to the book "The Gamble," 90 percent of Democratic-leaning independents backed Obama in 2012, and 78 percent of Republican-leaning ones backed Romney."

And therein lies the difference in the election. Romney was only able to maintain 78% of the REPUBLICAN leaning independents, while Obama had 90% of the democrat leaning independents.

which is that what voters call themselves doesn't change their voting patterns.

Turnout, totals for each party, etc. - no variation whatsoever.

The election was close and those variants in % of the "leaners" accounts for the result.

Obama held a larger % of democratic leaners, whereas Romney didn't.

Thus, Romney lost.

This confirms the "myth" of the independent voter and shows how important they are to the swing of the election.

Most people not conservative liked (and like) Obama'

Clinton? Not so much.

I've read that previously. And since the polling is very sophisticated and since voters can be identified so specifically, why spend all this money? Just poll the 12% and be done with it!!

The Republican nominee can't reach 270 without those 2 states.

It is hilarious.

This seems to show that most actually lean one way or another.

The "myth" is that there should be any concern about it. Independents do not exist, they are just a right-wing or Sanders talking point.

Neoliberal New "Democrats" are great, will always win. All this noise about more people hating the system and its two parties more than ever is a myth. The country is in great shape and life is wonderful. Vote Clinton. Math endorses her.

Don't blame me for this, I'm only the messenger. He said, "They're a bunch of lazy, whiny freeloaders who run on pure emotion and are too lazy to research anything -- including what it takes to vote in a primary. Thank God Bernie is not a reflection of his fans base in any manner, or he'd be guilty of being the biggest jackass to ever run for political office."

For the record, I agree with only a fraction of what he said.

=========

On edit: that fraction is very close to 1.

who thinks Sanders supporters are "Whiny freeloaders" and that Sanders could have been the biggest jackass to run for political office...you said you don't believe all of it....just posting what you "hear from a friend"
Except for many of the post you make on DU that follow that same thought process...

They line up with what you normally say...

I do not want them picking our candidates.

Judging from the last 30 years or so that hasn't been the case in most states at all levels.

The ones for her, not so much. (About being to the right. Ha!)

In that time, I have never voted for a Republican.

they are called 'no-party' which seems more accurate.

Putting Ind in the middle to me seems disingenuous.. even the "dem-leaning" and "gop-leaning" seems out of place - Republicans & Democrats are not the furthest point of the spectrum... IMO it's an over simplification of a broader ideological picture..

The takeaway from this is that if a candidate doesn't appeal to Indies, forget it in the GE. HRC has long been in deep negative numbers among Indies. Not a good sign for November.

And not merely a bunch of folks who like the sound of being "independent." I'm sure many Tea Party types love referring to themselves as "independent."

Obama lost the Independent vote in nearly every swing state in 2012, yet he still crushed Romney.

Look at the combined deep blue and light blue total, and how deep that combined sector was. They amounted to fully 50% eight years ago, compared to less than 45% today.

As others have noted, unaffiliated voters are all over the spectrum politically. When it comes to casting a ballot they have the same duopoly to contend with as anyone else, so unsurprisingly most of them consistently vote for one party or the other. Shocking!

I'm unaffiliated because the Democratic Party is a corrupt center right shit-show. It's cousin the Republican Party is a corrupt far right shit-show. So when casting a ballot the corrupt rightwing shit-show that comes closest to representing me is the Democratic Party.

Both of these organizations should disappear.

Bernie is changing that sort of. 2020 we are back to the samo samo unless a leader - maybe Bernie? - takes it to the next step whatever that is.

Some Democrats vote 3rd party.

Some Republicans vote 3rd party.

Some Independent do the same.

Conclusion: Some people think that labels are meaningless and choose to think for themselves.