Charlie Cook Reminds Us that Moderate Voters and Independent Voters are Substantially Different Groups of Voters

Charlie Cook, famous political analyst, has this column at National Journal, on the difference between independent voters and moderate voters. He highlights what had already been reported, that in the November 2012 election, Mitt Romney carried independent voters by a margin of 50%-45%, with 5% of independents voting for minor party presidential nominees.

But, President Obama carried moderate voters, 56%-41%, with 3% of moderates voting for minor party presidential nominees.

In the U.S. House races, independents supported Republicans more than Democrats by 7%, but moderates supported Democrats more than Republicans by 16%.

These figures make it clear that independent voters and moderate voters are not the same. This fact ought to be faced by the California business community, the Chamber of Commerce, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and the editors of most of California’s large daily newspapers, all of whom constantly told the public in 2010 that independents and moderates are the same people and that only a top-two system would enhance the power of moderates. Thanks to PoliticalWire for the link.


Comments

Charlie Cook Reminds Us that Moderate Voters and Independent Voters are Substantially Different Groups of Voters — 2 Comments

  1. I would guess that some not insignificant percentage of independent voters would be voters who would never vote Dem or Rep, and among them would be many who are radically left AND right on the spectrum.

  2. Since 1932 especially —

    MORE or LESS STATIST left/right control freak stuff.

    Do so called independents and moderates have ANY brain cells able to detect left from right ???

    P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.

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