You mean the same independents that put Obama in office ...in 2008 and 2012...
2008 - 52 % independents voted for Obama...
2012 - 45% independents voted for Obama...
In 2014 election cycle independent voters broke this way:
" 47% of Americans identify as Democrats or lean to the Democratic Party, and 41% identify as Republicans or lean to the Republican Party." Just 10 percent of Americans can be identified as "pure independents."
Yes...these independents will put Cruz over the top...?
You failed to cite or link your source which is the Cook Political Report headed by Charles Cook, a well-known Beltway mercenary who sells what you want to hear for a price you’re willing to pay. And he bases his results on a Gallop Poll which is not the only poll to capture the astounding 42% but who nonetheless always oversample democrats in the subgroup breakdowns.
http://cookpolitical.com/story/6608
Cook can do simple crosstabs statistics but he can’t sample because sampling costs money. He goes for the bargain basement sample which is Gallop.
So you’re starting off on shaky ground to say the least.
But then you destroy your credibility by reaching back to voter results in 2008 and 2012 when the Independents registered as 24% of the electorate, not 42% as in 2014.
And you failed to mention that Romney won the Independent vote in 2012 but not by much. In fact, if he had been a real conservative and not such a liar, he would have won much more of the independent vote and the Presidency as a result.
The majority of Independents are Conservative and they greatly support Ted Cruz.