Back in October, when the Democratic nomination for president was still in question, Hillary Clinton's pollster claimed that if Clinton were the Democratic nominee, 24 percent of Republican women would vote for her. That same month, the Los Angeles Times / Bloomberg poll found that if John McCain were the Republican nominee, 20 percent of Republican women would vote for Barack Obama while 11 percent would cast their votes for Clinton. And this month's Gallup poll showed Democratic women favoring Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama 49 to 45 percent. In fact, CNN reported that 17 percent of Clinton's supporters (read women) would support McCain if she weren't chosen as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee and another 22 percent wouldn't vote in November.
What's the significance of all these numbers? To me and, I would presume, to the strategists for both Obama and McCain, it's time for a big push to gather up all that X chromosome support. Here are some suggestions for Senator McCain:
- "Older" women remember too well what it was like in the '70s to be passed over in the workplace, despite experience, knowledge, and preparation. Remind that group repeatedly that you have decades of experience in life as well as in government, that you are well-prepared to be president, and don't deserve to be passed over this time.
- Clinton, the fighter, won increasing support from women. You may have to reach way back into your memory bank for that fighting spirit. But the results could be worth the effort.
- Pro-life Democrats have been looking for a landing place since the abortion issue grabbed the national spotlight some 35 years ago when they no longer agreed with their party's pro-choice platform. Your pro-life stance fits theirs and could convince them to cross party lines.
And for Obama, I have the following recommendations:
- Women enjoy their hard-won power in the workplace and at home. So play up your female-centered family and the influences of your mother, grandmother, wife, and mother-in-law on your life, as suggested by your campaign spokes- woman (sic) Linda Douglass.
- You need to counter the growing hate emails claiming you are a radical Muslim , particularly for women want clarity on this issue. In San Diego this month, your half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng, PhD, will talk about you at a fund-raiser. Might be a good idea to have her and other surrogates address the religion question head-on for broader audiences and get some media coverage for those events.
- Point out loudly and often your pro-choice credentials and your support from NARAL Pro-Choice America. Here is a clear enticement for women who cannot support a pro-life candidate to turn to you in November.
And do let me know how this all works out.
Matthew C. Scallon
June 13, 2008 at 02:54 AM
"Point out loudly and often your pro-choice credentials and your support from NARAL Pro-Choice America. Here is a clear enticement for women who cannot support a pro-life candidate to turn to you in November."
Oh, I agree. And make certain to remind everyone of your opposition to the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban, a procedure that the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan called "too close to infanticide."
Speaking of infanticide, make certain to remind everyone how you, while chairman of the Health and Safety committee of the Illinois Senate, killed the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, the same bill passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate, the bill which guaranteed medical care for born alive accidentally as a result of an induced abortion.
Make certain to remind everyone how you don't want your daughters to be "punished with a baby" should they have an unplanned pregnancy. That's quite a wonderful thing to call your own grandchildren: punishment.
Please, please make certain to let everyone everywhere know your position on the sanctity of life. After all, it worked so well for John Kerry.
michael valentine
from spring Valley
June 14, 2008 at 03:56 AM
McCain .....
Does anyone who supported HIllary really want this man as President?
Does Hillary's supporters really want Mr. Flip-Flop changes his mind or is out of his mind to make the choices for the Supreme Court for the next four years?
Do Hillary's supporters want their grandchildren drafted for the Iran war?
McCain and all his Republican buddies have been letting the biggest criminal in history get a free ride.
Gregory Duch from Le Quartier du Gaslamp
June 14, 2008 at 08:01 PM
I must salute the members of the SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS for having found a way to keep re-election costs to a minimum.
The answer is so glaringly obvious!~!!
When you run, make sure you are the only candidate running for your life-term office on the BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
This also results in simplifying the ballot enormously; --when there is only one name up for election, you don't have to spend a bunch of time deciding who you are going to vote for.
The Soviet Union's elections operated this way from 1917 to 1991. The Soviet folks were pretty happy with the no-choice election. Democracy is too messy and complicated.
They have gone back to that system after Putin.
Matthew C. Scallon
June 16, 2008 at 09:55 PM
@michael valentine:"Does Hillary’s supporters really want Mr. Flip-Flop changes his mind or is out of his mind to make the choices for the Supreme Court for the next four years?"
I hate quoting myself, but some people have reading comprehension issues. Sigh!
From a different blogger's comment, I quote myself:
"So far as 'flip flop' is concerned, McCain’s record on the right to life has been consistent in that he’s always opposed abortion in all legislative acts. Insofar as the courts are concerned, he did oppose overturning “Roe†but not supports overturning it. If you want call a 'flip flop,' but a rather minor one.
Now, Obama, in the flip-flop department, claims that he would have supported the Born Alive Infant Protection Act if he could have voted on it. The funny thing is that he killed the exact same bill when he was a committee chairman in the Illinois Assembly (I’m originally from Illinois; I follow politics back home regularly). So, flip-flop on overturning 'Roe' versus flip-flop on giving health care to citizens born alive from a botched abortion: which one’s bigger?"
End quote.
How's the medication coming?
Matthew C. Scallon
June 16, 2008 at 10:36 PM
"Pro-life Democrats have been looking for a landing place since the abortion issue grabbed the national spotlight some 35 years ago when they no longer agreed with their party's pro-choice platform. Your pro-life stance fits theirs and could convince them to cross party lines."
I'm so sorry, Gloria. I should have thanked you a long time ago (my 8-month-old needed my attention, and never got back to this). It's nice to see that someone at KPBS notices that we pro-life Democrats are not mythical creatures or wannabe Republicans. It would be nice if some commenters (sp?) on these blogs noticed that, too. Now, I'm not going to name names, but they know who they are.
Just the minor correction: the party platform wasn't changed until 1976, so that's 32 years, not 35. That year was also the year that Ellen McCormack, pro-life Democrat from New York, became the first woman to get federal matching funds in her primary campaign against Jimmy Carter. She also had delegates who voted for her at the convention --how many I'm not sure-- so hope is not lost.
Matthew C. Scallon
June 16, 2008 at 10:39 PM
@Gregory Duch, I'm with you, man, but the blog's about the woman vote and what both Presidential candidates should do to get it.
Normally, you're Johnny-On-The-Spot. Everything OK?
Rob
September 03, 2008 at 01:32 PM
Gloria, Great article and I think you hit the nail right on the head. It also looks like McCain must have been listening. :-)
~Robert
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