Stories related to: independents

Barack Obama was once a no-name politico on Chicago’s South Side with an Ivy League degree and few supporters, the New York Times reports. But he found allies by courting opposing groups, a balancing act that has proven effective on a national scale. “He’s looking for ways to make the tent as large as possible,” said one Obama mentor, dismissing claims that he’s “wishy-washy.” More »

Barack Obama appears to be recovering—mostly—from the furor over his former pastor's incendiary remarks, according to the latest CBS News / New York Times poll. His lead over Hillary Clinton has increased from 8 points to 12 points—50% to 38%—among Democratic primary voters, who also approve of how he handled the flap over comments by Rev. Jeremiah Wright, 68% to 22%. There's still some negative residue, however. More »

Former Democrat Joe Lieberman could cross the aisle in primetime to give a speech in support of John McCain at September's Republican National Convention, the Hill reports. The Connecticut Independent hasn't been tapped yet, but told reporters, “If Sen. McCain, who I support so strongly, asked me to do it, if he thinks it will help him, I will." More »

John McCain is planning a tour to visit core Democratic constituencies—inner cities, Appalachia, the black South—in what John Dickerson, in Slate, sees not as a direct appeal for votes, but rather a campaign to beam his authenticity, via the media, to the country’s independents. A McCain advisor says informal settings will allow citizens to “praise, chastise and argue with him.” More »

Barack Obama has 6 weeks to cut into Hillary Clinton’s lead in Pennsylvania, but only 10 more days to lay the groundwork: Voters must register as members of a party by March 24 to vote in the primary. Independents and Republicans must switch their affiliation to Democratic by then because the April 22 primary is "closed," which favors Clinton. Obama volunteers have been recruiting since long before staffers arrived in January. More »

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are running neck and neck in Texas, while Clinton holds a significant but tenuous lead in Ohio, according to a Washington Post- ABC News Poll. Heading into the crucial March 4 primaries, Clinton leads Obama 48% to 47% in Texas, and 50% to 43% in Ohio . More »

Hillary Clinton is all but ceding Saturday's South Carolina primary to Barack Obama, just one variation of the political calculus Democratic presidential candidates are using ahead of Super Tuesday primaries February 5, the Washington Post reports. Clinton will spotlight states with personal history—Arkansas and New York—and two with delegate counts—California and New Jersey. More »

The California GOP decided last year to bar independent voters from its presidential primary, and the decision may cost the party dearly, the LA Times reports. Independents are welcome to vote in the Democratic primary—and once they've voted for a party in a primary, they usually stick to it in the general election, experts say. More »

John McCain holds a slim lead over Mitt Romney going into tomorrow’s primary in Michigan, according to the latest Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll. The Arizona senator leads Romney 27% to 24%, within the poll’s margin of error. “It’s very close, and it’s been very close every day that we’ve polled,” says pollster John Zogby. Mike Huckabee holds third with 15%; everyone else is in single digits. More »

Hillary Clinton's surge from expected second to sudden victor in the New Hampshire primary may be largely thanks to the ladies, writes Salon. Clinton's backing by 46% of female voters—compared with 34% for Barack Obama—boosted the New York senator to 39% of the overall vote, edging Obama's 37%. That marked a critical change from Iowa, where Obama won more of women's votes. What else allowed Hillary to shock the pundits? More »

As the battle for New Hampshire looms, would-be presidents are largely abandoning partisan rhetoric to court the state’s independents, who comprise 45% of the voting base there. The New York Times explores the far-reaching implications in this contest of unaffiliated voters, whose decisions will likely come right down to the wire. More »

They gave John McCain the margin of victory in 2000, but this time around New Hampshire Independents are breaking from the Republican and toward Democrat Barack Obama, according to a Los Angeles Times /Bloomberg poll. As the Jan. 8 primary approaches, 61% on Independents say they are voting Democratic and more than twice as many back Obama as McCain. More »

John McCain, whose candidacy barely registered in polls a few months ago, is enjoying a momentum surge in New Hampshire. “I am obviously going to try to capitalize” on three key newspaper endorsements and Joe Lieberman’s support, McCain said. He's seeking the same independents who gave him the 2000 primary win, the New York Times reports. More »

Democratic Connecticut senator and one-time vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman is expected today to announce his support of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, reports the Washington Post . The newly "Independent Democrat" agrees with McCain's hawkish Iraq stance, and his backing is thought to hold some sway with moderate and independent voters in the primaries. More »

Having played a central role in the GOP’s 2004 organizing success, America's exurbs are swinging to the left as a result of the housing crunch, the LA Times reports. With sliding home prices and soaring foreclosure rates, voters in high-growth counties across the country are growing anxious and turning away from Republicans. More »