Independents in the 2012 Election

So, as the Republican Primary has shown thus far, voters are not unifying under any one candidate and even the votes that are being cast for the front runners are being done so by a divided and uncertain base, (Divisions within). Instead it appears that Romney is getting the core, Santorum is getting the farther right conservatives and Paul and Gingrich seem to be more appealing to the crowd closer to center as well as the independents. To exactly what degree this divide is has been shown to vary from state and it is hard to get an exact number (after all the main source of voter affiliation is usually gathered at exit polls and who know how accurate that really is). This apparent divide within the party is more than likely a point that the Obama campaign is looking at as a major positive. As for November; it's still a little early to say but if the economy continues to improve as it has for the past few months in a row now Obama may just get re-elected. If the independents who are looking for someone they see as better than Obama aren't pleased with the candidate who picks up the Republican nomination (who will likely be Romney) than many will more than likely either stay home or vote for Obama. Yes. It does sound crazy but if Obama can win over even a small percentage of swing voters between now and November it may play out in a big way, (swing). There are many who are not pleased with Obama right now and it only takes a glance at the approval ratings he has to prove it. So although the approval ratings can't be taken too seriously when it comes to exact percentages what they do say is that if Obama does win it probably won't be by the comfortable margin he did last time. That being said, the importance of those independent and swing voters could play out to be the deciding factor. Regardless of which way this thing ends up turning out it will none the less be an interesting battle to say the least.