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Women Swing Back to Barack

Sarah Palin's candidacy shook up the race, but polls show female support in line with past elections

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 7, 2008 6:43 PM CDT

(Newser) – 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.

In key battleground states, Obama’s support from women far outstrips McCain’s. Though not atypical, Obama’s lead in, say, Florida is due in most part to a gap between male and female voters. “It seems the effect of Sarah Palin is not one that seems to be long-lasting,” one analyst says. Even whilte women, thought to be particularly excited by the Palin candidacy, are now expected to repeat the traditional split down the center or trend slightly Republican.

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A woman holds a baby during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. (AP Photo)

Barack Obama shakes hands as makes a surprise visit to the Illinois delegation women's luncheon at the Democratic convention. (AP Photo)

Obama among his supporters. (AP Photo)

Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin. (AP Photo)

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A review of recent polls in 14 states where the contest is expected to be very close finds gender gaps in every state. In each case, women voters support the Democratic ticket more strongly than men do. - Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University

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Women Swing Back to Barack