Republican John McCain is back in New Hampshire this week courting the voting bloc that fueled his primary win in 2000: Independent or undeclared voters. McCain says he is the only republican who can get the country to look past partisan labels.
For a guy who was left for dead this summer, John McCain is stepping pretty lively these days…. The Arizona senator has been on a steady climb in the polls, and touched down in state on Monday with a sheaf of newspaper endorsements. He was quick to share the latest during a morning visit to Lincoln Financial Group in Concord.
"We’re having fun and things are going well, and we got the endorsement of the Manchester Union leader, and Salmon press, and the Portsmouth herald, and also the Des Moines Register, and also the Boston Globe."
McCain went on to joke that he didn’t often agree with the Globe’s editorial page, and stressed that if elected he would “preserve his conservative credentials.” But McCain also later told reporters that he understands that his fate on primary day will depend largely on voters from outside his own party.
"I’ve got to convince the independent voters who might be tending to voter in the Democratic side that it’s far more important to vote for me. I think I can do that. I think I can succeed."
And success with Independents will be crucial—and not just for McCain……Undeclared voters now make up 44 percent of the electorate – up slightly from 2000. During that primary 60 percent pulled a republican ballot, and the vast majority voted McCain…….For months it’s been expected that the bulk of 2008 independent voters will vote for a democrat. And though recent polls show that margin narrowing....most probably will….. Mike Dennehy, McCain’s campaign manager says regardless of what the polls may suggest, independents always make up the minds late, and share a basic m.o.
"They abhor partisan politics partisan politics and gridlock, they want to see someone of character, they want to see someone of integrity, and they want to see someone who has reached across the aisle to actually get something done."
"If you running for president and you’re just going to play party all the time, I think that’s wrong."
Mary Centampo is a republican-leaning independent who caught McCain’s appearance at Lincoln financial. Centampo says she never really considered voting for McCain, but came away impressed after hearing him speak and looking him in the eye. She says also that McCain would reach out to a former democrat like Joe Lieberman
"I think it’s interesting, I think it’s interesting. Would it sway my vote, not necessarily."
-IS it between?
"I’m not that close, no I’m not that close."
And Centampo isn’t alone……With the primary less than 3 weeks away polls show that most voters are either undecided, or open to switching their support.
