With their parties' nominations secured, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are courting those elusive voters in "the middle."

Both candidates know that in presidential politics, "the middle" means victory. That's why both are trying to become the candidate of choice for millions whose votes are up for grabs.

A new AP-Yahoo News poll finds that some 15% of those surveyed regard themselves as moderates, not solidly supporting either candidate. And more than half of those in the mushy middle are independents.

In the AP-Yahoo poll, 39% call themselves Democrats while 29% say they're Republicans. That leaves 32% who are independents.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)