The Independent Factor

The speeches have ended, the confetti's dropped and the candidates are hoping to translate the enthusiasm of the conventioneers to the electorate at large, especially the estimated 15% of undecided voters, many of them Independents. With John McCain and Barack Obama both now claiming the mantle of change and positioning themselves as the anti-Bush candidate, how will Independents decide? Jackie Salit is president of IndependentVoting.org, a national strategy center aimed at developing America's growing independent movement. Political and demographic analyst Elliot Stonecipher monitors independent voting, especially in the south.