Gender: Big Factor in Fall Presidential Election
By: Tommy Elder, Jr.
Some supporters of New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton contend that gender serves as a factor pushing her down. Jodi Kantor of the New York Times reports that Marilu Sochor, a 48 year old real estate agent from Columbus, Ohio said- `Women felt this was their time, and this has been stolen from them.` She continued- `Sexism has played a really big role in the race.`
On this topic- historian Doris Kearns Goodwin stated that- ``Mrs. Clinton`s campaign is faltering.`` She noted that the callasp came about due to- `strategic, tactical things that have nothing to with her being a woman.`
Democratic vice presidential nominee during the 1984 Election- Geraldine Ferraro indicated that- (speaking of Senator Clinton) `She`s raised this whole woman candidate thing to a whole different level than when I ran.`
Taking an opposite perspective- Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano opinioned that- `I never heard anybody say she can`t be elected because she`s a woman.`
Viewed from the public`s perspective- a New York Times/CBS News Opinion Poll surveyed during last winter presented the case that the electorate considered Senator Barack Obama as a better potential commander and chief than Senator Hillary Clinton.
So far during the Presidential Campaign- Ms. Kantor relates that- ``Mrs. Clinton`s campaign, many women say with regret, did not inspire a deep or nuanced conversation between men and women, only familiar gender- war battles consisting of male gibes and her supporters` angry responses.``
Perhap as an example of the chasm created among women advocacy groups related to the Presidential Bid of Senator Hillary Clinton shows up vividly with the endorsement of Senator Barack Obama by the Pro Choice organization Naral (National Abortion Rights Action League) for President of the United States.