It is folk wisdom among political types that swing voters in swing states are the key to a presidential election and that they are sensitive to perceptions of the trend in the labor market. I examine the characteristics of swing/centrist/independent voters in California and their perceptions of the labor market and other issues and draw some lessons. I then look at a recent California reform designed to incentivize candidates to become more centrist and ask what can be learned from workplace-based incentive plans about this reform.
