Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 8:19:37 PM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

'Wal-Mart Mom' Voters Swing, Will Be Crucial

Posted Sep 10, 08 8:40 AM CDT in Politics 

(Newser) – Polls clearly show the white women's vote swinging away from Barack Obama and it's a particular group the candidate needs to worry about most, Karen Tumulty writes in Time. Soccer moms comprised the key swing group in 1996, and "security moms" did last election, Tumulty notes. This time, it's the "Wal-Mart moms"—or grandmas—who could win it, she adds.

The "Wal-Mart moms" are in their 40s or 50s and financially squeezed by the needs of both aging parents and college-age kids. The demographic tends to be less educated and more "racially sensitive," pollsters note. John McCain has grabbed their attention with his choice of Sarah Palin, but analysts aren't sure if that will last. This group could be wooed by a Democrat, but Obama will need to do a better job of selling himself to them, Tumulty concludes.

Source Time

1 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Blue-Collar White Women Shift to Obama

    Oct 11, 08 4:51 AM CDT
    Blue-Collar White Women Shift to Obama America's "Jane Sixpacks" are leaning toward the Democratic ticket in growing numbers, the Wall Street Journal reports. White, working-class women voters make up nearly a quarter of the electorate, and polls are finding that the economic crisis is convincing more voters in this vital group to back Barack Obama, especially in swing states like Michigan and Ohio.
    More »

  • Women Swing Back to Barack

    Oct 7, 08 6:43 PM CDT
    Women Swing Back to Barack Sarah Palin’s novel influence on the presidential campaign appears to have waned, and the “gender gap” among voters has reverted to that in past elections, the Chicago Tribune reports. That means women favor Democrat Barack Obama over Republican John McCain. Women will support Obama by a margin of between four and 11 percentage points on Election Day, predicts a scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

    More »

Barack Obama shops for fruit with Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., at the Columbia Market House in Columbia, Pa., last week.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Sarah Palin signs autographs for an overflow crowd of supporters after a campaign rally in Lancaster, Pa., yesterday.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Women voters in their 40s and 50s could prove to be the key swing group this election.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
A customer checks out at a Wal-Mart Store in Arkansas this summer   (AP Photo/April L. Brown, file)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

White women are always a key demographic in close races. The ones who matter most, however, are not necessarily the same in each presidential election. - Karen Tumulty

They are conflicted on Obama. They'd like to vote for a Democrat, but they're not sure Obama is the one. - Democratic pollster Geoff Garin on the 'Wal-Mart moms.'

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (
1
 of 5)

Tags

Barack Obama • Sarah Palin • swing states • female voters • demographics • swing voters • white women • the female vote • hockey mom


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Politics Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser a team of editors and writers culls the most important stories from hundreds of U.S. and international sources and reduces them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. It's the Newser guarantee: we can take any report or column or video and pack what you need to know into 120 words or less. Newser's short-form aggregation, visual format, and unique information tools help you get more of the kind of news you want, in a quicker and more entertaining way. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »