A poll by the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way found that independent voters in likely presidential swing states prefer President Barack Obama to probable Republican nominee Mitt Romney, 44 percent to 38 percent. The poll surveyed 1,000 self-identified independents, who voted in the 2008 presidential election and reside in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia or Wisconsin.

Those surveyed actually identified more with Romney's economic views. Respondents said that they were concerned about the national deficit, jobs, and economic growth, but not generally worried about economic inequality. The typical respondent viewed the current socioeconomic system as fair.