TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

California registered voters rise 7 percent in four years-Voters who decline to state party affiliation rise by 24 percent (Almanac - Menlo Park CA)

Strength in numbers-Debbie Gibbons, Brookline supports Betty Ward's independent voice (Letter to Concord Monitor)

Here's a rather upbeat take on this year's Presidential campaign (Patriot Ledger) I half agree -- voters are taking a shot they don't usually get to shake up partisan lockstep politics

IOWA
The ground war and the hunt for independents (By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JEFF ZELENY, New York Times) and Finally voters will get to vote-- Oh, the possibilities (By ADAM C. SMITH, St. Petersburg Times) Pundit, football and actual voting (By Mark Shields, Green Valley News & Sun) The caucuses -- how it works (Newsday) Obama says he can draw more independent voters (Des Moines Register)

NEW HAMPSHIRE
McCain Begins New Hampshire Blitz (By Marc Santora, The Caucus, New York Times) Ron Paul Could Do Well in New Hampshire (NPR blog) Clintons relying on N.H. for victory (By KEVIN LANDRIGAN - Nashua Telegraph) A guide to keeping your 'primary' sanity as national media takes over (Portsmouth Herald, By Dean Spiliotes) A Biracial Candidate Walks His Own Fine Line-mention of Harlem appearence, Sharpton (New York Times) McCain losing votes to Obama in N.H. (Los Angeles Times)

BLOOMBERG
Talk of third-party bid intensifies-Bloomberg, others will meet on eve of N.H. vote (By David S. Broder, Concord Monitor) Will It Be Bloomberg And Unity In Independent Bid? (The Moderate Voice-By Joe Gandelman) Iowa, New Hampshire still crucial for candidates (Newsday) Finch gets advice from Big Apple mayor (Bridgeport News - CT)

OPEN PRIMARIES
Special election will close La.'s open primaries-March 8 vote to replace Jindal could cause confusion in state (Times Picayune)

Toward a Militant Populism-Greens Gone Wild (By JOHN MURPHY, CounterPunch)