...right that republicans are willing to vote for Hillary over their own nominee.

Wow.

Peeps can't have it both ways.

...they are about 40% of voters...but you knew that already.

Secondly, most "independents" are, in fact, party loyalists.

Thirdly, "independents" aren't a united bloc and people need to stop implying that they are. Members of the Tea Party and right wing militia groups self-identify as "independent."

Lastly, Obama lost the "independent" vote in 2012 and still won re-election in an electoral college landslide.

The posts you are talking about are a few about people voting for Bernie over Hillary or Trump, but you are Cherry picking. Most of them state the opposite, I know because I have posted many saying Huckabee, Koch Brothers, etc have all endorsed Hillary, because well she is one of them. Republican's are the smallest party at this moment, even if you add in the "loyalist Independent republicans.

Secondly and thirdly (since they are about the same thing, you could have just grouped them), they are more loyal to their beliefs than their party. They go Dem because while they may hate the DNC, they find it closest...these are less party loyalist than idealist...I wonder who on the Dem ticket is based more on ideals and less on mediocrity? (also I love your mention of Tea Party and Militias, way to try and paint the group as one side even-though all studies show you are lying...green party*cough*)


Lastlier, no you are wrong...he lost only in most of the swing states and the election with a lower turn out with a massive shift in "Independants".

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/11/13/infographic-obama-lost-the-independent-vote-in-almost-every-swing-statehttp://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2012/11/13/infographic-obama-lost-the-independent-vote-in-almost-every-swing-state

and NPR has this study on them saying more of them are Democrats...

Myth Of The 'Myth'?

The fact that he lost the independent vote in most swing states makes my argument even stronger. If he lost the overall independent vote but won it in swing states, you could still argue that "independents" were key to his victory. But that wasn't the case.

You think the likes of Huckabee, including his supporters, are going to be voting for Clinton? Seriously? That's like thinking those "independent" Tea Party folks would vote for Sanders (or Clinton). Ain't gonna happen.

Clinton will rely upon more or less the same constituency that elected Obama, and she will likely win in an electoral college landslide.

Reasonable and semi-reasonable Republicans (an increasingly small group) are talking about voting for Clinton or not voting at all or voting 3rd Party because Trump is widely believed to be a complete disaster. Not because they think Clinton is "one of them."

Why do you think they were at Trump's wedding. They are the Third-way. But about the independents...Of the ones that voted they were out numbered by the youth and high Democrat turn out. Also independents spiked down a little that election so that also helped. So Bernie that does well with Independents, younger voters, and get out the vote...no biggy. But Mitt Romney drew 1.3 million fewer votes than the ticket of John McCain....so if republicans had turned out more ...it may have been one term for Obama.

She appeals to her base.

Women, AA, Hispanics, Asians, etc.

He hands down crushes her with my fellow Asian voters here in the "white" NW.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/12/7/1457999/-Breaking-News-Bernie-Sanders-Most-Popular-Candidate-Among-Asian-Americans

But hey love your dedication to waving around that minority card, perhaps she can actually help a few, because she always "tries" to have our backs. She also does great with people that do not want to vote for a Jewish guy.







http://www.truthrevolt.org/news/emcee-african-americans-hillary-event-used-anti-gay-anti-semitic-slurs


Also a large group of hardcore liberals are independents, and they account for most of the independents which account for 42% of all voters...so Bernie has that base....but Hillary does good with her Republican base, you know tha Walmart one from Arkansas.
https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1484

the sane people within his party.

A Trump presidency is downright scary.

I can't for the life of me find it but it polled conservative, Republican, women, and they had a lot of admiration for her.

With Trump running I think he will push a whole lot more in her camp, just on principle. And while yeah it's a small reason to be voting for someone, it's still a legitimate reason as any.

will repudiate him. They may not say much publicly, but they may speak with their vote. At least I hope that all Republicans have not lost their collective minds.

in the primaries, so all bets are off. LOL.

their jobs to free trade and to the big banks crashing the economy, may vote for Trump if they can't vote for Sanders.

People who have had their careers, businesses, and towns destroyed by globalism and big finance, are hurting so bad they might be willing to vote for anyone who is against free trade, no matter what else the candidate maybe be for or against or even if he's just plain dumb as rocks