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A guide to winning the Independent vote
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Location: Blogs Marion Politics |
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| Posted by: Ocala.com Election Coverage |
2/19/2008 8:51 AM |
The Star-Banner asked the heads of the local Democratic and Republican parties the following question: What does your party have to do at the national level to win the important Independent vote in November?
Bruce Seaman, chairman, Marion County Democratic Party
Independent voters indicate that they seek the kind of leadership that will bring unity, inspired direction and constructive purpose to remedy the divisive, ruinous years of Republican leadership. They are tired of ideological agendas, fiscal ineptitude, unfair tax burdens, and unresponsive, unaccountable leadership. They long for leadership that will deal with health care without exploiting citizens for the benefit of health and insurance companies. They await a leader who can bring true reform to education and restore effective direction. They want to see intelligent diplomacy and the restoration of US integrity with partners throughout the world. They want America back.
They are finding the answers they seek among Democrats while Republicans strive for continuation of a decrepit ideology, accurately viewed as bankrupt by most independents with either a right or left lean.
Among right leaning independents, support has largely been for McCain while left leaning independents seem more attracted to Obama. Their numbers and their ability to overcome the “inevitable” candidates shows how their strength matched or exceeded the activist bases in both parties.
The presidential candidates on both sides will need to pay greater attention to independents and allow the activists to howl their displeasure. At the end of the day, disgruntled activists will pinch their noses and vote for the party’s candidate. And each nominee will know that.
McCain will have to finesse even more reverse backflips, double toe loops, and triple salchows to convince enough independents that another Republican in the White House in league with Congressional Republican extremists isn’t going to finish what’s left of the USA. He is hampered by the right wing whose disdain for him is shouted from the rooftops, compromising McCain’s ability to woo independents since he has to cover himself from nasty attacks by his own party’s activists and leaders.
It’s a very good year to be a Democrat. The message of both Democratic candidates is in sync with independents and their desires for the future direction of our nation. Democrats are far more unified and will gain the support of independents whoever the nominee is.
Roy Abshier, chairman, Marion County Republican Executive Committee
All Americans regardless of their party affiliation want to keep more of their hard earned money. The FairTax, the Flat Tax, the Bush Tax Cuts, and repealing the Death Tax are all Republican initiatives. The Democrat's initiatives all increase taxes. The AP reported recently that Senator Obama if elected would "raise Social Security taxes." Independent voters who look beyond the rhetoric of the campaign will see the work being done by Republican candidates nation wide and right here in Marion County to reduce the tax burden and they will vote for lower taxes, they will vote Republican.
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Re: A guide to winning the Independent vote |
By Juanita Martsolf on
2/24/2008 8:35 AM |
| With the tremendous debt this present administration has put us in, who do you think will have to get us out? Certainly not the Republicans. |
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Re: A guide to winning the Independent vote |
By D. Vine on
2/26/2008 5:30 PM |
| Not to mention that the Dem. definition of "rich" includes 99% of the people who work for a living. Enough with the hand outs, cut spending and cut taxes! |
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