| Third of americans dont trust either party { January 24 2007 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6994689http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6994689
Crossing the Divide Unaffiliated Voters on the Rise in California by Ina Jaffe
Morning Edition, January 24, 2007 · More California voters are registering not as Republicans or Democrats, but as "decline to state," indicating no party preference. The ranks of the major parties are affected. Will this become a national trend?
Guests:
Curtis Gins, head of the Center for the Study of the American Electorate, in Washington Dc.
Garry South, Democratic campaign strategist for former California Governor Gray Davis
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EXCERPTS:
2:07
Ina Jaffe: Nationwide the number of independent voters may also be growing says Curtis Gins, head of the Center for the Study of the American Electorate, in Washington Dc.
Curtis Gins: In 1962, it was about 3% of the electorate, in the 28 states who have partisan registration. This year I just got final figures, it’s going to be over 21%.
Ina Jaffe: And that’s just in the states that measure such things. Nationwide the percentage may actually be higher. A recent Pew research center poll found that 32% of voters consider themselves independents. . . They're generally more cynical about politics. No surprise there says Gins.
Curtis Gins: I have a small litany that starts; "I am not a crook", "I did not know anything about Iran Contra", "Read my lips, no new taxes", "I did not have sexual relations with that woman", "We are in eminent danger of weapons of mass destruction."
Garry South: ....One of the reasons they are late deciders in campaigns is because frankly a lot of them think both candidates are liars and you couldn't believe a thing a single one of them said even if they told you the sun was coming up the next morning-- and a lot of them in the final analysis don't vote. . . . Independent voters in this state tend to be moderate to conservative on the fiscal side, and on the social side tend to be liberal to libertarian.
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