December 2, 2008 7:18:32 PM CST
(Newser) – The GOP is betting that John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate will put 18 million dents in the Democrats' White House hopes, the Washington Post writes. The party hopes the choice will woo disaffected Hillary Clinton voters, while many Democrats dismiss it as pure political pandering. "It's basically the equivalent of a midnight raid behind enemy lines," one GOP strategist notes.
At minimum, it will make some Democrats cautious about criticizing Palin, and stir resentments of Clinton loyalists. Much will hinge on how Palin is defined in the coming weeks, the Post writes: as a hard-working hockey mom ready to make history, or as a pro-gun pro-life Republican cut from the same cloth as Bush. Ellen Malcolm, president of Emily's List, which supports women candidates, tells the Post, "McCain clearly sees the power of women voters in this election but has just as clearly failed to support any of the issues that they care about."
Source Washington Post
Sep 22, 08 2:47 PM CDT This election is all about women—and Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton can't take all the credit, Sarah Hughes writes in the Independent. The candidates are the most visible, but female commentators, comedians, and protesters have set the tone and are asking the difficult questions. "The good ol' boys are still there, hollering," says Hughes, but it’s the likes of MSNBC's Rachel Maddow leading the pack. More »
Aug 31, 08 8:30 AM CDT John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate is drawing a mixed reaction from the female swing voters his campaign is desperate to woo, reports the New York Times. Some conservative women who have been lukewarm about a McCain presidency are energized by the pick, whereas many independents and Clinton fans take issue with the Alaska governor’s anti-abortion stance and other issues vital to women. More »
Feb 13, 08 1:03 PM CST Barack Obama's sweep of eight primaries in the past four days has put Hillary Clinton on the ropes, and New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wonders if women will once again come to her aid as they did in New Hampshire. But the "national seminar on gender and race" that is this year's Democratic primary has a strange tenor: while Obama aims to transcend race, Clinton often tries to use her sex as a tool, or worse, as an excuse, says Dowd. More »
It's basically the equivalent of a midnight raid behind enemy lines. Hillary said she made 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling. Well, McCain just shattered it. - GOP strategist Juleanna R. Glover
We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain. - Hillary Clinton
This is just sheer political pandering. I don't think women are going to buy it. - Clinton backer Debbie Dingell
The fact that Palin is pro-life and pro-gun will be a block for many of Senator Clinton's supporters—but not all. - Howard Wolfson, former Clinton communications director
Election 2008 • Hillary Clinton • Sarah Palin • women • Hillary Clinton supporters • female voters • political strategy • the female vote
