NYT Examines "Myth" of Swing Voters

image
Created: 17 Aug, 2012
Updated: 13 Oct, 2022
1 min read

A New York Times article from yesterday on swing voters, "Few Voter are Truly Up for Grabs, Research Suggests", is worth the read...even if you disagree.

Writes Rebecca Berg:

In spite of clichés about Nascar dads and Walmart moms, the actual share of voters nationally who are up for grabs is probably between just 3 percent and 5 percent in this election, polling experts say. The Obama and Romney campaigns are expected to spend on the order of $2 billion, in part to try to sway this tiny share of the electorate.“There’s a very small slice of people who are genuinely undecided, but it’s enough to win the presidency,” said Rich Beeson, the political director for Mr. Romney’s campaign.The share of swing voters might even have declined in recent years, as many voters have become more reliably partisan. A recent report by the Pew Research Center found that self-identified Democrats are more liberal than in the past and self-identified Republicans are more conservative.

She continues:

Part of the difficulty in identifying swing voters derives from confusion about the term “swing voter” itself. These voters might describe themselves as “undecided,” for example, or as “persuadable.” Often, they call themselves “independents,” although many who identify that way are not.

Read more at the New York Times and then let us know if you agree, disagree, kind of agree, totally and completely think these points are wrong.

Latest articles

Clear ballot box with ballot inside.
Skokie Is the Latest Illinois City to Embrace Ranked Choice Voting
Skokie voters went to the polls on April 1 amidst a closely watched mayoral election to decide whether or not to adopt ranked choice voting (RCV). With 100% of precincts reporting, 58% of participating voters said ‘Yes’ to changing how the city conducts elections. ...
02 Apr, 2025
-
2 min read
Overhead shot of cargo at a port.
What Will Trump's 'Liberation Day' Mean for US Job Growth?
April 2 marks President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day,’ which could usher in the most aggressive tariffs in modern US history or be completely blown out of proportion....
01 Apr, 2025
-
5 min read
Cory Booker
Cory Booker Just Delivered the Longest Senate Speech in US History
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey made history with a marathon speech on the Senate floor, surpassing 24 hours in a sweeping protest against the policies of former President Donald Trump....
01 Apr, 2025
-
2 min read