TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

* America’s Third Party starts here (Jessie Stensland/ Whidbey News-Times) They created a new, centrist political party, which they call America’s Third Party. They are trying to strike a balance between the Democratic and Republican philosophies, often taking the best ideas from each camp and marrying them with technological innovations.

CAMPAIGN

• Primary poses more questions than answers (The Citizens Voice - PA) In earlier states, Obama has shown an ability that Clinton lacks — attracting Republicans and independent voters. They couldn’t vote in Pennsylvania’s closed primary, but independents and third-party members represent one of 10 state voters.
• For national Democrats, no clear path forward (Syracuse Post Standard) Idealistic first-time participants and independent voters were inspired by the promise of a campaign more honest, authentic and inclusive.
• Rifts Mend, Unless Identity Politics Is a Different Stripe (New York Times) Much turns on what the superdelegates decide to do. In a Gallup poll in mid-March, before the Pennsylvania primary, 7 percent of Democrats and Democrat-leaning independent voters said they would not vote at all in November if superdelegates gave the nomination to Mrs. Clinton, and 2 percent indicated a third-party choice. In addition, 11 percent said they would vote for a Republican.
• Media Conventional Wisdom Shifting Towards Belief Clinton Could Defeat Obama? (by JOE GANDELMAN, The Moderate Voice) But you can’t hope to change the political culture unless you’re in a position to change the political culture.

WEST VIRGINIA:

• Presidential politics: State has influence-Clinton-Obama race most significant since JFK’s ’60 primary battle (Times West Virginian) But the percentage of independents has climbed from 6.83 percent in the 1996 general election to 13.2 percent for this primary.
• Real contest-A matter of voting (Charleston Gazette) a high-stakes contest still exists for West Virginia's 660,000 Democrats and 150,000 independents

NORTH CAROLINA* About one-stop early voting (Burlington Times-News) Independents and unaffiliatated voters CAN vote in the Democratic primary in North Carolina.

POLLS* McCain leads (Fairbanks Daily News Miner) However, Obama had a two-to-one lead over McCain among unaffiliated voters. McCain leads Clinton by eight percentage points among unaffiliated voters.