Why the Democrats should join forces with the "Independents"?

[kentuck]

First of all, more Americans call themselves "Independent" than Democrat or Republican. That is a fact that should not be over-looked.

Second of all, most folks that leave their Party, Democrat or Republican, join the Independents.

It is a sad fact that the Republican Party controls the propaganda system of this country. Democrats are weak at messaging and taking advantage of opportunities when they arise.

In my opinion, Democrats and Independents should join forces when it is advantageous to either of them. In some races, an "Independent" might run stronger than a Democrat. In other races, a Republican might run stronger than both of them. These are the times to join forces, in my opinion. After all, the goal is to win and keep the fascists out of power.

No doubt, this idea will leave a bad taste in the mouth of life-long Democrats. But, unfortunately, our Party is not at its strongest point. We need a bigger Party.

[NewHendoLib]

1. I think of independents as maga who lack courage.

[The Madcap]

10. I know several Independents

who registered that way due to fear of a Trump imprisonment/culling of registered Democrats. Given all he has done, that fear is looking less irrational by the day.

They are pretty much aligned with us on how they will vote in the future general election.

[Miguelito Loveless]

2. In my experience

people who identify as "independent" are conservatives smart enough to know that "conservative", and "Republican" are now synonymous with "fascist" Another go to label is "libertarian".

[kentuck]

3. Does that mean that only 3 out of 10 voters identify as "Democrat"?

For a "Party of the People", that seems shockingly low to me.

[Miguelito Loveless]

7. About par for the course

As I have pointed out in the past, we are here in a police state because 33% of the electorate voted against fascism, 34% voted for fascism, and 33% could not be bothered to vote, so accepted fascism by default.

"Independent" is either a conservative mask (conservative single men will almost always claim to be "independent" to avoid the expected reaction of "get lost" from women) or just a contrarian pose to seem "high minded".

[Frasier Balzov]

14. Party of too many People "not like me."

Could be the perception?

[bucolic_frolic]

4. In all the strife, the benefits of the Constitution are lost

The party needs to read the Constitution and Amendments and reformulate ideology and platform around rule of law and what we believe. We stand on principle. Not on corporate-lite.

[gab13by13]

6. Ideology means nothing in a dictatorship.

[gab13by13]

5. The way to get a bigger party

Is to nominate fighters and stop with the labels.

Democrats love to eat themselves deciding whether to run a progressive or a moderate. Just nominate the fiercest fighter.

President 2028 - Miles Taylor, VP - Malcolm Nance

[kentuck]

8. I can remember when our Party had "conservative" Democrats...

But we also had the majority in the House and Senate.

It was a trade-off. But many thought it was worth it.

[Bobstandard]

9. Thoughts

Most independents are just folks who are disengaged from party politics, don’t vote, and don’t give a shit about politics in general except to complain about it.

Office seekers who register as Independents are folks who thought like or were actively MAGA but see a better route to office and the payoff.

An Independent office seeker espousing progressive talking points needs a serious vetting before risking your vote.

Most independent voters are hard to market to because they’re often uninformed, disengaged, and not interested in policy. Developing an ‘offer’ that might motivate them is tough. Over analyzing can be counterproductive. When in doubt, resort to the obvious. Everyone hates high prices. Stick with that.

Embrace independent politicians when they show in office that they are in line with progressive policies and goals.

Embrace independent voters when their actions at the ballot box reveals that they’re only independents because they don’t want their friends to know that they’re Democrats at heart. In some places and situations, that’s a wise policy.

[kentuck]

11. This in no way would interfere with Democrats running in their primaries...

People would still choose the Democrat of their choice.

But, as we know, "independents" are mostly shut out of most primary races.

It is in the general election that they could be of benefit to Democrats. Or Democrats could be of benefit to them if they were running against a strong red district Republican.

[SocialDemocrat61]

12. This is backwards

Independents need to join forces with democrats by voting for democrats.

[kentuck]

13. I don't think it can be a one-way street.

Of course, Independents do not usually run in primaries. But there are districts where Democrats are very weak - almost impossible to win. These are the districts where they could organize to work together to defeat the MAGA Republican, in my opinion. It is possible that am "Independent" candidate could be stronger than the Democrat. Should we just surrender that district to MAGA?

[SocialDemocrat61]

16. Where?

What districts ars independents so strong they could win?

[Fiendish Thingy]

15. Do not confuse independents with moderates or centrists

Independent voters generally still lean pretty consistently towards Dems or republicans.

Independent voters aren’t an organized bloc, so I’m not sure what “joining forces” would mean.

Rather, it simply makes sense to make the case to all voters that, after a decade of Trump dominated politics, Democrats are the best choice.

As we have seen over the past year, both independents and even republicans are eagerly voting for democrats.

[everyonematters]

17. They do lean one way or the other, but they way they lean can depend on how they are thinking

at the moment. That's how we win one election and then lose the next. A lot of them don't really trust either party. It's going to continue this way until one of the parties makes a big difference economically. The big problem is wages.

[Fiendish Thingy]

19. Do not conflate swing voters with all independents

Swing voters are a small, single digit percentage of all independents. Most independents reliably lean towards Dems or republicans on a consistent basis.

The momentum and trust on economic issues favors Dems right now, and they should exploit that to the max.

[everyonematters]

20. That can't be true. It that was true, then there wouldn't be swings between the elections like we are seeing.

The growth in independents over the last decade or so has changed that.

[Fiendish Thingy]

21. Nationwide, independents are something like 40% of the electorate

Say 7-8% of independents are true swing voters- that’s still several million, easily enough to sway results in purple states, both in midterms and presidential election years.

But what we have seen in the past year is republicans voting for democrats in deep red areas, not swing voters in swing districts.

Not a majority to be sure, but a significant enough number to give the democratic candidates victory.

[everyonematters]

18. Why are we overperforming in special elections right now? It is because we are winning the independents.

Yes, most of the independents lean one way or the other, but that depends on the way they are thinking at the moment. That's why we win one election and lose the next one. Many of them don't really trust either party. It is going to be that way until somebody makes a significant difference economically. The big problem is wages and income inequality.

[GoodRaisin]

22. I don't know what that means, practically speaking.

i.e., run campaigns to appeal to right leaning moderates? That would be the swing voters, no?

I think we get those voters automatically by running on economics and going after opponents for their silence during Krasnov’s corrupt and murderous acts.