From the latest Associated Press-GfK poll, here's an interesting comparison of independent voters in the matter of whether the upcoming presidential election is presented as a referendum, or a choice:
Obama's overall job approval stands at a new low, with 44 percent approving and 54 percent disapproving. The president's standing among independents is worse: Thirty-eight percent approve while 59 percent disapprove....
[Yet] Obama receives 45 percent of unaligned adults compared with 41 percent for Romney. Against Gingrich, Obama holds a wide lead among independents, with 54 percent supporting the president and 31 percent backing the former Georgia congressman.
The principal problem looming for Republicans is that they must, no matter how fearfully they resist, nominate one of their own, thereby forcing a choice.