Swing voter

[Michael Quinion]

William Safire quoted a 1956 example of "swing voter" in his "On
Language" column this weekend. The term is recorded twice times in
newspapers from late 1949, of which this is the earliest:

1949 "Times Recorder" (Zanesville, Ohio) 18 Nov. 5/2 Candidates are
directing their campaign at the middle class "swing" voters. These
are the people who vote either way, and really decide who will
govern.

Both examples refer to the then current Australian election, which
may suggest the term was coined there.

--
Michael Quinion
Editor, World Wide Words
E-mail: <editor at worldwidewords.org>
Web: <http://www.worldwidewords.org/>