December 2, 2008 8:42:43 PM CST
(Newser) – When Geraldine Ferraro joined Walter Mondale's ticket in 1984, Ronald Reagan got a boost from women voters who may have felt threatened by Ferraro's personal and professional success. Nearly 25 years later, the effect of Sarah Palin joining John McCain contrasts sharply with Ferraro's fortunes, and prompts Newsweek to take a look at feminism and sexism today.
Since women's suffrage, pollsters and politicians have had trouble getting a bead on the female vote—probably because there is no such thing: Women vote as individuals. But the surge of support for Palin has seen many women, both Democrat and Republican, shelve their political and ideological beliefs in favor of throwing themselves behind a woman. Ferraro is skeptical the momentum will hold, and predicts a reversal: "People never vote for vice president."
Source Newsweek
Sep 10, 08 12:10 PM CDT The crowds turning out for Sarah Palin show that the vice-presidential candidate is pulling her main support from conservative women. But she has also gained some followers who, though they identify as independents or Democrats, are "fed up with a man's world," the Washington Post reports. While some call Palin just another Republican cultural warrior, others are inspired. More »
Sep 10, 08 3:10 AM CDT John McCain has erased Barack Obama's lead, transforming the presidential race to a statistical dead heat, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. Obama's lead among women dropped from 10 to 4 points since August, which is largely attributed to Sarah Palin's popularity, reports MSNBC. 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 »
Sarah Palin • female voters • Geraldine Ferraro • women in office • suffrage • pollsters
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