Listen to cable TV or almost any political discussion these days and you’ll hear the term “the base” a lot. “Isn’t this all about Trump keeping his base happy?” or, “will the Democratic base accept a compromise with the president?” or, “which party has the most motivated base?” What we hear little to nothing about in these discussions is the feelings/votes/leanings of independent voters. To be fair, these voters are less likely to be engaged in the political process this far out from an election. Still, they are significant political force, especially, as we’ve seen in the most recent midterm wave elections, when they break overwhelmingly for the party out of power. CONT.
Amy Walter, Cook Political Report