| It seems to me there are are a few kinds of female supporters of Hillary Clinton in the primary. These are without respect to party.
1. Women who are for Hillary Clinton because she is Hillary Clinton, no more, no less. These women trust Clinton, think she is an experienced leader who has worked on serious issues for a long time and has a record of accomplishment, including her efforts on health care in the White House. They supported Clinton in part because they believe Barack Obama is too inexperienced.
2. Women who are for Hillary Clinton because she is a strong, tough woman. They are more likely to be self-dubbed feminists, and very progressive on women's issues. They believe it's time for a woman in the White House, and that is high on their list in terms of choosing a candidate to support. These women are also very likely to agree that the media was very sexist in the primary, and be outspoken about it.
3. Women who are for Hillary Clinton because they want a woman in the White House, but aren't necessarily die-hard feminists who march for Roe. They are less oriented in terms of women's issues. These women think it's time for a woman, but aren't impassioned die-hards for that cause. A female candidate would impact their decision, but not in the way it would a #2 supporter.
McCain likely sees an opening among #1 types. There are some who think experience is extremely important, and if Obama doesn't have it and McCain does, irrespectively of party, some women will go for him. But I don't know where Palin comes in to help with those types of women. If they were taking a close look at McCain because of his experience, Palin certainly made them gag. There's no way these kinds of Hillary supporters are going to nod approvingly at former mayor of a town with a population of a small liberal arts college, with no real record of accomplishment as governor.
As for #2 and #3 types, Palin isn't going to help much. First, #2 types are for Clinton because she is strong and tough, and they emphathize with her battles with the media and conservatives throughout the years, and what she took during the Lewinsky ordeal. Palin doesn't bring any of that, and is a beauty queen, to boot. Not exactly a shining beacon of tough women standing up for themselves. On top of that, these women aren't exactly idiots. They do, you know, actually care about her positions on choice and equal pay and workplace discrimination. To some, the pick of Palin is an insult to them. My mom put it best:
I take it as a slap to women everywhere, it's saying you want a woman on the tix, here's one. They're all interchangeable. Never mind her measly BA degree and her 1.5 years, she's female and that'll sell the tix, especially to Hillary fans. Bull, isn't it, it's warped white conservative male thinking I swear.
There are probably also a lot of #2s and #3s who are mothers. Some could be single mothers, balancing work and home, and some with partners or husbands. The McCain campaign may try and trumpet all of her balancing work and home, but I think it will backfire. My sister, who I would classify as a mix of #1 and #2, really said what makes me think this:
Her 4 month old has Down's Syndrome?? Are you kidding me? Talk about family values, she's basically dumping her kids to become VP? her husband works, he's not home with them! Unbelievable. one of the mommies in my WNY mommies group says, I only have 3 and I can't find time to take a shower! She's LOSING mom's votes right there in my opinion.
As for #3s, I think Palin is most appealing to them. Perhaps some of them are thinking, if not President, ok Vice President. And Palin's record on women's issues won't turn them off. Sure. But of the women in the polling I cited above, I happen to think this number is the smallest, as well as the least enthusiastic for McCain or Obama. I think these are the types who weren't very active in the primary, weren't raising money and attending house parties like the ones who were because they were excited Hillary was running.
In other words, there are more women who were excited for Hillary as a candidate, or excited for a strong, progressive, tough woman, than there were women who just wanted a woman in the White House, and as long as there's a woman on the ticket, that will help with them. I just get the feeling the any-will-do women (of which, following my mother's wisdom, there aren't very many at all) aren't the kind of get up and get seriously active for Palin, or really anyone.
Lastly, with #2s and #3s, I happen to think 90% of people don't think of a Vice President in the voting booth. They are focused on the two candidates, with a few exceptions, such as when my sister and some of my friends told me "I like Hillary in part because she's got Bill, and he's great." But Sarah Palin is no Bill Clinton. Sarah Palin is going to have to spend some time just introducing herself to people before they'll be interested in taking the time to go to an event with her. That also goes for Republican activists, a lot of whom are wondering who the hell this person is. She isn't exactly a Rick Santorum who has built a national profile. But even after all that, she's going to raise money, attack Obama, and do town hall meetings. That's mostly what Vice Presidential nominees do.
The 10% of people who do stop and think about the whole picture are likely to factor in that McCain could buy the farm any day. Sure, then they'd think of Palin. They'd also think of her complete lack of qualification to be President. My first thought when I heard about Palin today was "seriously?" My second thought was "you know, speaking as a private citizen, Sarah Palin is not qualified to be my President. She's not ready to run this country." I think a lot of people are going to think that as the second thought after "McCain is pretty freaking old."
I'd be very interested to hear thoughts, and please go easy on any chauvinist accusations. I obviously haven't done focus groups, and these are gut and personal observations not meant to characterize all women. Personal anecdotes are particularly welcome. What are you hearing from your family and friends? |
