TODAY'S NEWS HEADLINES for INDEPENDENT VOTERS 9/30/10

INDEPENDENT VOTERS

• The Sweep: Vikings, voters and the charge of the Militant Middle (By Tom Foreman, CNN) Part of the problem cited by everyone I talked to is the primary voting system. Despite some highly publicized upsets, in most cases the parties still steer the early selection process toward faithful partisans. Such candidates are easier to raise money for, easier to differentiate from the opposition in ads, and more likely to do precisely what moderates do not want: Toe the party line. [piece quotes Kathleen Curry]
• National Review: The GOP Can Win The Northeast (by ANDREW STILES, NPR) Interestingly, more Northeast independents are breaking for Republicans than their counterparts in the Midwest or the West.
• More Voters Likely To Vote Independent This Year (Fox New York) Republicans are in a more rebellious mood than Democrats. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of GOP voters say they are more likely to vote for an independent candidate this November, compared to just 17% of Democrats. Perhaps not surprisingly, 47% of those not affiliated with either major party are more inclined to vote for an independent.
• GOP agenda lacks punch - Both parties too often feign commitment (The Tennessean)
• An Increasing Number of Voters are Registering as Independents (Alexandra Hill, WJHG Channel 7 -  Bay County FL) Bay County election officials say countywide they’ve also seen a recent rise in the “no party affiliation.” in 1988, voter registration logs show just under 5 percent were registered outside of the two party system. Now, the statistic is close to 18 percent , which factors out to mean almost one in five of Bay County voters. 

OPEN PRIMARIES

• Our Opinion: Rauschenberger case shows need for open primary (THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER - IL) Rauschenberger in 2009 had voted in a Democratic primary because his sister was on the ballot in a township race. This, the Democratic Party said, made Rauschenberger a Democrat and ineligible to run as a Republican.
• Al Hein calls on state to rule on ballot integrity (News Record, Bluff Country Newspaper Group - WI) "It's so unfortunate that the recent stories have diverted attention away from the issues - term limits, open primaries and the elimination of special interests' participation in elections," said Hein.

THE WHITE HOUSE

• Obama gives Stewart's rally a boost (By KENDRA MARR, Politico)
• Michael Bloomberg a 2012 no go (By ANDY BARR, Politico) “I think we should all pull behind Barack Obama,” Bloomberg said. “He’s our president.”

COLORADO

• Write in Kathleen Curry (LETTER Aspen Times) However, being affiliated with a party does not stop me from being an independent thinker and educating myself on issues and candidates prior to casting my vote each election. 

NEW YORK

• Post-Espada, Jockeying Begins For Latino In Legislative Leadership Position (Andrew J. Hawkins, The Capitol)
• Indys Back Schneiderman (Updated) (Joseph Spector, Politics on the Hudson)
• Indys Behind Schneiderman ’100 Percent’ (Liz Benjamin, YNN/Capital Tonight)
• Last Indy lap: DA's party probe to end by Elex Day (By CARL CAMPANILE, NY Post)

LAST WORD

• International Performance Conference Joins Artists from 31 Countries (Broadway World) NOTE: The Hankster is presenting a session at this year's Performing the World conference. Watch for video!!!