USA Today reveals what many of us have suspected — voters are fed up with the bickering and fringe politics of the Democrats and Republicans and are moving to the center.
According to a USA Today analysis of state voter registration statistics, more than 2.5 million voters have left the Democratic and Republican parties since the 2008 elections, while the number of independent voters continues to grow.
Registered Democrats declined in 25 of the 28 states that register voters by party. Republicans dipped in 21 states, while independents increased in 18 states.
The trend is “acute” in states that are key to next year’s presidential race, according to the story. In the eight swing states that register voters by party, Democrats’ registration is down by 800,000 and Republicans’ by 350,000. Independents have gained 325,000.
Here’s a portion of the piece:
“‘The strident voices of both the left and the right have sort of soured people from saying willingly that they belong to one party or the other,’ says Doug Lewis, who represents state elections officials. ‘If both sides call each other scurrilous dogs, then the public believes that both sides are probably scurrilous dogs.’
“Registered Democrats still dominate the political playing field with more than 42 million voters, compared to 30 million Republicans and 24 million independents. But Democrats have lost the most — 1.7 million, or 3.9%, from 2008.
“… By contrast, the number of independents has grown for years and is up more than 400,000 since 2008, or 1.7%. States with big gains: Colorado, Florida, North Carolina — and Arizona, (all targets) … for President Obama in 2012.
“…The 2012 winner, says North Carolina elections director Gary Bartlett, will be ‘whoever is attractive to the unaffiliated voter.'”
You can read the entire story here.
