The Battle of Independent

Just how critical are independent votes to elections? The key to office lies in their hands. By viewing exit data from the 2008 primaries, the current nominees were able to ride the independent vote towards the novembder election. Exit polls from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21226015/ are able to back up this statement: The one who appeals to the independent can be almost guarentee victory lane. I believe this is true in every election. You will have some people on the fence during the election, but traditionally, when November rolls around, voters on that fence come back to their last party identification. Candidates must appeal and incorporate the independent mind into their campaign and policy strategies to fully guarentee a solid showing. As these exit polls indicate, independent voters always voted with the eventual winner.
These exit polls also reaffirms my expectations for voter behavior. The young vote will always go Democratic, old vote Republican. To me, there arent really any suprises when exit polls come out. Am I really going out on a limb by suggesting that UWM will vote 80% for Obama? Polling is important but the focus is off. Polling should really break down independents; on their behavior, who they are, what issues concern them, how they got to be independent and when.

possible answer to the healthy democracy scenario: low turnout signals that everything is being run smoothly....why go through a revolution when there doesnt need to be one? Just ask the French, circa 1793