With the Presidential Elections underway in November 2012, one of Obama’s key concerns is to win over the ‘swing independents’ back just as he did in 2008 in winning 57 percent of the votes from this group. According to a survey conducted by Global Strategy Group, it seems as if the support that Obama enjoyed then hasn’t changed at all.
Third Way deputy director, Lanae Erickson, sums up the survey results by saying, “There’s definitely some good news for Obama. It’s not shocking to any of us that he’s very likable… Romney’s ideology is much closer to where they see themselves, but the likability factor isn’t there for him.”
The numbers are in favor of Obama as he is viewed favorably by ‘swing voters’, at 57 percent, while his GOP opponent enjoys the support of 41 percent from this group of voters. In order for Obama to truly garner the support he needs for a second Presidential term, he needs to convince these voters that he is ideologically aligned with them than they are aware of.
The survey also indicated that Romney is considered to be ‘moderate’ as opposed to Congressional Republicans yet, on the other hand, Democrats are now aligned with Obama’s ideology.
With most independents angry about the congressional gridlock over the past year or so, national debt and the Wall Street bailouts, fairness seems to be a message, which the Democrats constantly focus on, is what resonates with this group.
Even though most independents don’t consider themselves to be victims to the aforementioned issues, there’s no doubt that they’re of the opinion that despite the fact that Washington is the cause of this unfairness, Obama would be the man to turn things around with a fairer economy rather than one that promotes opportunity as Republicans do.