Swing independent voters favor President Barack Obama but are closer in ideology to GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a new poll says.
Among independent voters in 12 battleground states, 44 percent favor Obama compared to 38 percent that chose Romney, according to a poll by Global Strategy Group for Third Way. "There's good news for the President: Swing Independents have positive views of Obama, but they are not locked down," Third Way wrote.
More than one-third of swing independent voters say they are undecided, according to the poll that surveyed 1,000 self-identified independent likely voters who voted in the 2008 presidential election in 12 swing states from March 8th to 18th. Third Way defines swing independent voters as "those who did not voice a strongly favorable or unfavorable view" toward either the president or Romney, meaning the group is winnable for either candidate.
"We find that Swing Independents are 'opportunity' voters—preferring an optimistic, opportunity framework on the economy over one based on fairness." Third Way wrote. "Why? Opportunity addresses their anxieties about the future, concerns that America is slipping, doubts about how the next generation will succeed, and questions over how we will strengthen our economy."
The swing states consist of Colorado, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. Last week, a USA Today/Gallup poll also found Obama leading swing independent voters with a 6-point lead over Romney.
"The movement toward Obama is essentially due to independents' changing preferences, because Democrats' and Republicans' preferences have been highly stable," Gallup wrote.
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