Now we move on to states where independents can't vote in our primaries

[ruggerson]

Should be interesting to see what Democrats have to say about all this.

[KennedyGuy]

1. yep..Dems voted overwhelmingly for Hill in Both NH and Iowa

a lot of Rethugs were fucking with us in Iowa..and there were a TON of independants..

[...of J.Temperance]

2. This is where Senator Clinton starts to move ahead properly

Without the Independent's to rely on, Obama is going to have serious trouble.

In Iowa, if one takes the Independent vote out, Obama wouldn't have won Iowa.

Senator Clinton's block is stronger than Obama's, she's got women + Union vote + senior citizens + Hispanics + half of the African American vote.

Obama's got under 25's + other half of the African American vote.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Not true about Iowa......

Even with only Dem voters, Obama won. Plus it was a caucus, so the formula doesn't show the real count.

[...of J.Temperance]

8. Well

You might be correct, but Iowa did have a sizable amount of Independent's going for Obama.

As you point out Iowa was a Caucus, which is why I've always discounted Iowa as not really being that important during the Primary season.

New Hampshire is where it actually begins, that's where the serious election season begins.

Obama is going to have some problems from now on, now it gets to places where he can't fall back on Independents to boost his numbers.

[quinnox]

4. yes, Obama has to get more Dems to vote for him

CNN was commenting on this earlier, if Obama can't expand his voter base he will lose the Dem only primaries to Hillary.

[BootinUp]

9. he needs more of the lunch box dems

is how they put it. I agree that his is weakness, or vice versa, its Hillary's strength.

[PretzelWarrior]

5. Obama is ahead in Oregon where there is closed primary

and I think he will be quite strong ALL OVER THE PLACE! YAY OBAMA! Kill the status quo. OUT with the old guard!!!

[ruggerson]

6. Great. If he wins, I want him to win with Democrats.

we can get to the independents and the moderate Republicans after the convention.

[billbuckhead]

7. I think we can throw out polls in this race

People lie about voting for black candidates and women vote stronger for women than they poll.

It's time the 52% finally get a president.

[FrenchieCat]

10. Maybe people lie that they will vote for a woman.....

as well. Had you thought of that?

[billbuckhead]

11. Woman tend to be non confrontational and polling booths free them

Whites don't want to look racist whether they are voting for racial reason or not. I bet many black people will also feel pressure to say they vote for Obama but remember how the Clinton's have been champions of working people including black people for decades and also that the Clinton's win elections so ones vote isn't wasted on false hopes.

[skipos]

12. We would not have won 2006 without Dems and Indies together

I know Dems often like to nominate candidates that have little independent appeal, but maybe they have learned their lesson.
Eh, probably not.

[liberalla]

13. Here in AZ, the deadline to switch party affiliations

was Monday Jan. 7. I was an IND and changed to DEM, so I can vote for Edwards.

The voter registration online website was up and down all day on Monday due to HEAVY traffic. I called the County Recorder's office and they said the amount of registrations was huge, and she made it sound like it was unexpected (?). It had been all over the local news for a couple weeks reminding people of the deadline to register, or change current registration in order to vote in the primaries.

So, many interested Independents may be doing what I did, just to be able to vote in the primaries. Perhaps former Independents may still have an impact in these states where INDies can't vote.