President Obama leads among 'swing independents'

[babylonsister]

President Obama leads among 'swing independents'

By JAMES HOHMANN | 4/9/12 4:29 AM EDT Updated: 4/9/12 10:00 AM EDT


Independents like President Barack Obama better but feel ideologically closer to Mitt Romney, according to a new poll of a dozen battleground states released Monday.

The survey, conducted by Global Strategy Group for the moderate Democratic think tank Third Way, homed in on the attitudes of “swing independents” who express views of Romney or Obama that are neither strongly favorable nor unfavorable.

The majority of those who call themselves politically independent typically lean toward one major party or the other, but about 15 percent of the total electorate (roughly 40 percent of independents) are thought to authentically swing between parties.

Obama won 57 percent of this group in 2008. In this poll, which took place in mid-March, he led Romney 44 percent to 38 percent.

more...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/74943.html#ixzz1rXoBOIHL

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Mixed news IMHO

It's good that most of them are leaning towards Obama but it's also worrisome that they identify more (ideologically) with Romney, which suggests that his "Etch-A-Sketch" strategy could actually help him in the GE. I hope, however, those swing independent voters realize that however close to the center Mitt appears to be, if elected, he will NOT be the one calling the shots and that he will have to govern as a "severe conservative", particularly if the Republicans hold the House and take the Senate. For the record, I don't believe that, at his core, Romney is a "severe conservative" and that most of the extreme stands he has taken during the primary have been to placate the substantially more reactionary and regressive GOP Tea Party "base". Now that the primary seems to be coming to a close and Romney is emerging as the presumptive nominee, it will be interesting to see if he will be able to hold the "base" in the GE or if they might revolt against him once he shakes that Etch-A-Sketch and reinvents himself as "Moderate Mitt" for the GE.

[polichick]

2. What are swing independents but Etch-A-Sketch voters?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

3. Very good point

I just hope that they realize before it's too late that it's not going to be Romney calling the shots if he's elected but rather the extremist GOP Tea Party. We need to make sure IMHO that everybody understands this essential point. Romney is perfect for Norquist's vision of a POTUS whom will sign whatever their allies in Congress send him.

[polichick]

6. I agree - Dems need to make that perfectly clear!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. I've had people on this very forum ridicule me for saying what I'm about to say...

The so-called Independents are the most misinformed and gullible voters out there. Many of them are really Republicans who fled the party, ashamed of Bush and his policies. Most of them, however, are not politically savvy and are most susceptible to pithy soundbites and bumpersticker logic. That is why they are closer to Romney. Not only are many of them former Republicans, they are also very misinformed and intellectually lazy when it comes to politics and government.

They also tend to believe that there is little difference between Romney and Obama, which is why Obama needs to work very hard emphasizing the contrasts between the two major parties or else we lose, especially if the economy falters.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

4. "Idelogically closer"?

[Marsala]

7. They have no firm convictions and choose whatever seems to be in their own best interest at the time

So Romney is a natural match for them, ideologically at least.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

8. Point taken

It pisses me off that the future of this country is hanging in the balance on the whims of people like this!