McCain losing votes to Obama in N.H.

[Adelante]

The Republican's campaign, after struggling mightily this year, has regained some of its footing and is hoping a New Hampshire win could propel him to success in later primaries. But he may fall short in the Granite State, in part because so many independents are choosing Obama.

The Times/Bloomberg poll found that among New Hampshire independents who have chosen the party primary in which they will cast a ballot, 61% said they planned to vote in the Democratic race, 39% in the GOP contest. And among those who have decided whom they will support, more than twice as many said they planned to back Obama, compared to McCain.

These voters include retiree Stephen Winship, 88, who plans to vote for Obama.

Winship said he supported McCain eight years ago "because he was candid," but won't do so now, in part because he disagrees with him over the Iraq war. McCain "has a conservative frame of mind and military background, so I think he would very much like to see this succeed," Winship said. "I think we need to get out."

Winship's shift reflects a broader trend among New Hampshire independents: Over the last eight years, they have drifted to the left.

Entire article:

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-independents30dec30,0,45121.story?page=2&coll=la-home-center

[DemKR]

1. Obama wants Republicans to choose our nominee....NOT Democrats

[0007]

2. Go Obama go

[Colobo]

3. Oh please!

[Renew Deal]

5. That's not how New Hampshire works

Most people are registered indies in NH. They can vote in either primary.

[calteacherguy]

17. Yep.

And it's good it's that way. It's an important test, very much different than the Iowa caucus.

[elizm]

6. Obama wants to be President of the "UNITED" States of America...

....not President of the Blue States or the Red States. It has been his message all along and the reason why I support him. If you like the divisive politics and the gridlock approach to Congress....then by all means, choose your candidate likewise.

[Colobo]

7. Obama is about to derail the coronation of Queen Hillary.

That's why he's so hated.

[elizm]

8. It's the ONLY explanation...

...for the hatred. There is SO nothing to hate about Obama.

[Beacool]

15. Don't be smug like your candidate, don't count your chickens yet..........

Super Tuesday is the day that really matters.

[chascarrillo]

10. The article said "independents"...

... not Republicans. Get your facts straight.

[BringBigDogBack]

12. Wow.

You are a child.

[MethuenProgressive]

4. Obama has positioned himself where can't win without Republican support.

I would rather support a Democratic Party candiate who reached out to Democrats for help in the primary.

[Jai4WKC08]

11. I'm not for Obama but....

But no one can win the general election unless he or she can win votes from the moderates within the other party.

Party affiliation is a little like religion. A lot of people identify with one party because their parents did, or most of their friends or co-workers do, or it's just how they see themselves, and because they see the other side as something they cannot identify with. If they looked at their beliefs and values critically, they mighy realize they don't have that much in common with the mainstream of their party, or that much at odds with the other guys, but most do not look at things critically. They just vote the way their gut tells them to.

2008 (like 2006 to a lesser extent) will be a time when there is a great opportunity to cut into Republican numbers because so many are in fact seeing, some for the first time, that their party is WAY off track. But we will only win those people if we offer them something they can relate to, or at least doesn't scare them away. Fortunately, ALL of the top Democratic contenders, the ones with any chance of winning our nomination, fit that bill.

Unfortunately, the GOP machine will do their best to make their moderates think our nominee is the second coming of Satan, and farther to the left than Marx, Lenin and Stalin combined. If they succeed, they'll win. I wish I was sure they won't, but I'm not.

[calteacherguy]

18. I agree with everthing you wrote except for this:

"Fortunately, ALL of the top Democratic contenders, the ones with any chance of winning our nomination, fit that bill."

Completely disagree with that.

[annie1]

9. cool.

[BeyondGeography]

13. We're taking this one to the greatest page

in the name of getting that whole 21st century thing finally started in this country.

[Kurovski]

14. K&R. (nt)

[calteacherguy]

16. Music to my ears...

Obama is positioned perfectly in NH no matter who wins Iowa.

He strength there among independents is a direct reflection of the fact that he is the most popular Presdential candidate of any political party nationwide.