Combined results of Associated Press-GfK polls indicate independent voters who embraced the Democratic ticket in 2008 might be ready to shift their votes, the AP reported Sunday.

Fifty-two percent of independents backed President Obama over Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008, and 49 percent went for Democratic House candidates to 41 percent for Republicans.

But the AP polling now shows 32 percent of independents wanting Democrats to hold on to Congress in November’s midterm elections.

More from the AP:

Independents voice especially strong concerns about the economy,
with 9 in 10 calling it a top problem and no other issue coming close,
the analysis of the AP-GfK polls shows. While Democrats and Republicans
rank the economy the No. 1 problem in similar numbers, they are nearly
as worried about their No. 2 issues, health care for Democrats and
terrorism for Republicans.

Ominously for
Democrats, independents trust Republicans more on the economy by a
modest but telling 42 percent to 36 percent. That’s bad news for the
party that controls the White House and Congress at a time of near 10
percent unemployment and the slow economic recovery.

Four in 10 voters identified themselves as independent in the April, May and June polling. That’s a jump from three in 10 voters just two years ago.

Independents gave Republicans high marks on national security, but Democrats had the edge on healthcare by 42 to 36 percent.