How Important Are Independents?

by Patrick Appel

Alan I. Abramowitz debunks myths about independent voters. Candidates have won the presidency despite losing independent voters:

In a close election, a candidate with an energized and unified party base can sometimes overcome a deficit among independent voters. That doesn’t mean the candidates should ignore independents, but it does mean that unifying and energizing their own party’s base is just as important as appealing to the independents.