Making the GOP sweat: Obama leads among WHITE independents for the first time

[ClarkUSA]

Barack Obama has taken a slight lead with white independent voters for the first time in the presidential race, positioning him to capture a key demographic group that has eluded recent Democratic nominees, according
to a Politico analysis of independent voting patterns.

According to Gallup’s weekly average of some 6,400 registered voters, Obama now holds a 45 percent-43 percent edge over Republican John McCain with white independents. About eight in 10 independents are white.

Should Obama’s support hold, he is positioned to become the first Democrat to win white independents in a two-man race since the advent of exit polling.

As recently as last week, McCain led within this group by eight percentage points. His lead was as high as 16 points in mid-September, in the week before the stock market's first meltdown.

Obama’s gains with white independents, who represent more than one in five voters overall, are a particular problem for the GOP. Unlike four years ago, Democrats significantly outnumber Republicans heading into Election Day, and John McCain will need to win these voters to overcome the gap.

[Jennicut]

1. If McLame is losing white independents then he is losing the election

[BrklynLiberal]

2. HAH! So there!!

[jberryhill]

10. Inner child, or young Sarah Palin? You decide /nt

[CitizenPatriot]

3. so while the racists are out there

they are NOT the majority.

Americans like Obama. Most Americans are voting on the issues, not skin color. So, to all of those McKKKain people who are hoping to spread the hate, guess what? It's not working.

You still suck for trying. I hope you end up in jail, where you belong.

But just wanted you to know that your hate isn't the majority.

[ClarkUSA]

6. What's interesting is Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and John Kerry NEVER led among white independents.

As per Ed Schulz on Larry King Live just now, as he referenced this poll.

[Fly by night]

7. Yes. But they only faced an administration that had us in the toilet, not one that has flushed us ..

... down the sewer.

[ClarkUSA]

9. True, but Obama is black which I think more than levels that particular playing field.

It's much to his credit that Obama has come so far.

[CitizenPatriot]

11. yes, it is! And it also says something about much of America

which I think really scares the white patriarchs (GOP).

I love that so many Americans are NOT looking at skin color.

This is a deep transformation, not yet complete -- but a GREAT start.

[Cha]

4. I knew those WHITE Independent voters

would start kickin' it any day now!

[wanpete]

5. I need to go out and buy a very nice bottle of champagne tomorrow.

I'm not getting cocky. I just want to be ready to celebrate fully the real possibility of the end of this eight year nightmare with the election of Barack Obama.

[morillon]

8. I am waiting until November 5th for one reason.

I plan to spend ASSLOADS of money that day, and I hope others will, too. I may even wade back into the stock market -- but only with shares in companies that are both deep blue and very green. I want the narrative to be that America is recovering because Obama won. :-)