SassyLady
04-20-2010, 04:46 AM
Do Independents have a platform?
Frustrated voters cut ties with Democrats, Republicans
By Richard Wolf, USA TODAY
The nation's fastest-growing political party is "none of the above," which could be bad news for Democrats and Republicans. As the 2010 midterm elections and the anti-tax "Tea Party" movement take shape, more Americans are registering "unaffiliated" rather than signing up with one of the two major parties.
The number of independent voters has grown faster in the past two years than Democrats and Republicans in at least 14 of the 28 states and the District of Columbia that register voters by party, according to a USA TODAY review.
"It's been a steady incline," says Ken Bennett, secretary of State in Arizona, where unaffiliated voters have jumped 30% since 2008. "It's kind of an in-your-face reminder to candidates of both parties that there's a whole other block of people who have to be acknowledged and courted."
The trend might bode well for moderates in states with open primaries, where the unaffiliated can vote. It could help GOP Sen. John McCain in Arizona and Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado, being challenged by traditional party stalwarts, says Jennifer Duffy of the non-partisan Cook Political Report.
The rise of independents goes back two decades, but many states are seeing bigger boosts now. For the first time since Gallup starting asking in 1992, both major parties are viewed unfavorably by most Americans. Nearly four in 10 voters call themselves independents, Gallup says.
Unaffiliated voters now outnumber Democrats and Republicans in nine states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Several states have seen dramatic shifts in the past two years, according to voter registration data:
•North Carolina has seen an 18% jump in unaffiliated voters, 8% among Democrats and no increase for Republicans. "People no longer want to be associated with a party," says elections director Gary Bartlett. "They like to not be categorized."
•In New Hampshire, independents are up 16%, Democrats 2%, and Republicans are flat. "The people who choose to be undeclared … are interested in voting for the person, regardless of party affiliation," says Deputy Secretary of State Dave Scanlan.
•Nevada's unaffiliated and independent registrations are up 13%, Democrats 8%. The GOP lost 2%.
Even where the rise of independents has slowed, officials predict a rebound. Says Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown: "It's because of the frustration with the political situation in Washington."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2010-04-20-independents_N.htm?csp=34&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
But who will they vote for in November if they are pissed at both parties? Things are going to get wild .....
And on a side note ..... wish us luck here in CA .... for the first time in ages, I mean ages, Boxer is on shaky ground. Obama was campaigning and giving a speech for her and got booed and heckled by gay protesters wanting him to ram through the DADT policy change.
This policital cycle is like all the earthquakes and volcanoes going on around the world......things are rattling, rolling and erupting like crazy. Yeah Baby!!!:dance:
Frustrated voters cut ties with Democrats, Republicans
By Richard Wolf, USA TODAY
The nation's fastest-growing political party is "none of the above," which could be bad news for Democrats and Republicans. As the 2010 midterm elections and the anti-tax "Tea Party" movement take shape, more Americans are registering "unaffiliated" rather than signing up with one of the two major parties.
The number of independent voters has grown faster in the past two years than Democrats and Republicans in at least 14 of the 28 states and the District of Columbia that register voters by party, according to a USA TODAY review.
"It's been a steady incline," says Ken Bennett, secretary of State in Arizona, where unaffiliated voters have jumped 30% since 2008. "It's kind of an in-your-face reminder to candidates of both parties that there's a whole other block of people who have to be acknowledged and courted."
The trend might bode well for moderates in states with open primaries, where the unaffiliated can vote. It could help GOP Sen. John McCain in Arizona and Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in Colorado, being challenged by traditional party stalwarts, says Jennifer Duffy of the non-partisan Cook Political Report.
The rise of independents goes back two decades, but many states are seeing bigger boosts now. For the first time since Gallup starting asking in 1992, both major parties are viewed unfavorably by most Americans. Nearly four in 10 voters call themselves independents, Gallup says.
Unaffiliated voters now outnumber Democrats and Republicans in nine states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Rhode Island.
Several states have seen dramatic shifts in the past two years, according to voter registration data:
•North Carolina has seen an 18% jump in unaffiliated voters, 8% among Democrats and no increase for Republicans. "People no longer want to be associated with a party," says elections director Gary Bartlett. "They like to not be categorized."
•In New Hampshire, independents are up 16%, Democrats 2%, and Republicans are flat. "The people who choose to be undeclared … are interested in voting for the person, regardless of party affiliation," says Deputy Secretary of State Dave Scanlan.
•Nevada's unaffiliated and independent registrations are up 13%, Democrats 8%. The GOP lost 2%.
Even where the rise of independents has slowed, officials predict a rebound. Says Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown: "It's because of the frustration with the political situation in Washington."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2010-04-20-independents_N.htm?csp=34&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
But who will they vote for in November if they are pissed at both parties? Things are going to get wild .....
And on a side note ..... wish us luck here in CA .... for the first time in ages, I mean ages, Boxer is on shaky ground. Obama was campaigning and giving a speech for her and got booed and heckled by gay protesters wanting him to ram through the DADT policy change.
This policital cycle is like all the earthquakes and volcanoes going on around the world......things are rattling, rolling and erupting like crazy. Yeah Baby!!!:dance: