In poll after poll, Mitt Romney has led President Obama among independents. But according to the Washington Examiner’s Byron York, the Obama campaign isn’t worried about that:
On a Wednesday conference call with reporters, top aide David Axelrod predicted the president will win independents in some swing states, but an Obama victory will not depend on it. “I think we’ll be competitive with those voters,” Axelrod said. “We may not win those voters, but we don’t have to win those voters.”
Well, in 2008, Obama beat John McCain by 8 points among independents. However, in 2004, John Kerry did beat George W. Bush by one point among voters who identify as independent, so there is a precedent for winning the independent vote, but losing the election.