Independent voters tilt toward Democrats

Source: Yahoo News (AP)

By ALAN FRAM, Associated Press Writer
Sun Sep 23, 4:59 AM ET



WASHINGTON - Michael Brooks is exactly the kind of voter the Republican Party can ill afford to lose. But in a foreboding omen for 2008, it may have already done just that.

The auto parts store worker from St. Charles, Mo., says he used to be a Republican but felt abandoned and is now an independent.

"For some reason or other, they didn't seem to be for the masses anymore," said Brooks, 59, citing a lack of help for middle-income earners. He said he voted for George W. Bush in 2000, thinking the Republican was "more middle of the road, for the people. Obviously I was incorrect."

Brooks is not alone. From coast to coast, independent voters tilt tellingly toward Democrats in their opposition to the Iraq war, their displeasure with Bush and their feeling that the country is moving in the wrong direction, according to data from recent Associated Press-Ipsos polls.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070923/ap_on_el_ge/irked_independents

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Welcome :hi:

:kick: :kick: :kick:

Mr. Brooks, THEY NEVER WERE.

National exit polls show that after leaning toward Republicans by 48 percent to 45 percent as recently as the 2002 elections, independents began shifting toward Democrats.

"This is a serious problem" for Republicans, says GOP pollster Neil Newhouse. "We didn't get where we are among independents overnight. The data does suggest that it's going to take us some time to earn those votes back."

Scratch many people that label themselves "conservatives" and you find someone who is actually progressive on the issues, they just call themselves conservatives because of 3 decades of the word "liberal" being demonized and the word "conservative" being exalted.

They now are known as the party of thieves, liars, and sex offenders.

:rofl:

of the economic protections that dems are more likely to bring.

i'm also guessing that for many americans -- the financial cost of the war is beginning to scare the begeezus out of them.