Jobs and the economy are the biggest issues on the minds of Hoosier voters. That’s according to polling by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
President Kevin Brinegar says education in general and the cost of higher education also are top concerns. He made the comments at a luncheon Thursday in West Lafayette.
Brinegar says the Chamber’s survey shows a big difference between federal and state lawmakers too.
"There's a lot of frustration among voters at the gridlock at the federal level. Obviously, the congressional approval ratings are very low. At the same time, voters believe the state of Indiana, by a large majority, is moving in the right direction."
Surveys by the organization found swing voters will play a bigger role in this year’s election.
Brinegar says campaigns need to pay attention to this block of voters. He says independents are growing in number and making choices based on candidates’ positions on the issues.
"It's much less, just appeal to the Republican voters or Democratic voters. It's really the growing percentage of independent voters in our state and nationally that are determining the outcome of many of these elections."
He says that voting block has grown from around seven percent to the low-twenties now.