TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS

POLLS, POLLS, POLLS, AND MORE POLLS:

• Florida Republicans can't stand the weather in this presidential election year (Southern Political Report) The question isn't as much whether Democrats will switch to the Republican side as it is how independent voters will end up voting.
• State GOP heals rift, gets behind McCain (The Denver Post) "That's why he's the GOP's ace in the hole when it comes to getting independents — he's more to the center," said Whit Ayres, a national Republican pollster who said his surveys show McCain leading 2 to 1 with unaffiliated voters over either Democratic candidate.
• McCain returns to Colo. (Rocky Mountain News) McCain, flanked by a host of former Romney supporters including Sen Wayne Allard and former U.S. Congressman Bob Beauprez, said he also believes that he might fare well in a state such as Colorado because of the rise of independent voters who are dissatisfied with both parties.
• Minor parties, nonaffiliated voters to play larger role in future elections -Nonaffiliated and minor party voters may determine who wins in Oregon (The Register-Guard)
• Poll: Obama on top with state voters (Connecticut Post) "Barack Obama has made the argument that he is more electable than Hillary Clinton because of his appeal to independents," said Douglas Schwartz, director of the Q Poll.
• New InsiderAdvantage Poll - Obama Leads Big In North Carolina (Compiled from InsiderAdvantage and Southern Political Report)
• Clinton's Tactics Backfiring? (The Plank/The New Republic) But Obama is still much more competitive with independent voters when matched up against John McCain than Hillary Clinton is.
• McCain trails Obama, Clinton in California (San Diego Union Tribune) From the Public Policy Institute poll: Who wins the popularity contest among independent voters? More independents have a favorable view of Obama (57%) than of McCain (47%) or Clinton (35%).
• DNC: McCain Myth Buster: John McCain and the West (By Democratic National Committee, Press Release in Sun Herald) It doesn't help that McCain and the GOP have alienated Hispanic and Independent voters, two key constituencies in Western states, over key issues like the war in Iraq and immigration.
• Obama stronger than Clinton in California, top-prize (The Swamp/Baltimore Sun)
• Clinton sees North Carolina as 'uphill battle' (CNN Political Ticker) Independent voters can participate in the Democratic primary, but Republicans cannot.
• PPIC Poll Shows Barack Obama Much Stronger in California Against McCain Than Clinton (California Progress Report)
• Poll: Obama has wide lead over McCain in Conn. (NY Newsday)

OPEN PRIMARIES:

• Bills shelved after Otter rejects transportation package (Magic Valley Times-News) Meanwhile, killing transportation might not translate into adjournment. GOP Lawmakers say a number of issues could force the session into next week, including two proposed constitutional amendments; a bill to reform medical benefits for retired state workers; a plan to create a modified open primary system; and overriding Otter's veto of $16.8 million for substance abuse treatment.
• Texas Double-voters should be asked to explain (The Facts) With a so-called open primary system, Texans don’t have to declare allegiance to a party to vote in that party’s primary.