Hillary Clinton Vs. the GOP Boys’ Club: Fighting for the Female Vote

[DonViejo]

by Lloyd Green Oct 21, 2013 5:45 AM EDT

If Republicans want to win in 2016, they need to start getting smart about appealing to female voters. By Lloyd Green.

For the first time in five years, Hillary Rodham Clinton was back on the campaign trail this past weekend, plugging away for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee and long-time Clinton ally Terry McAuliffe at a “Women for Terry” gathering. Clinton spoke about “common sense and common ground,” while McAuliffe hammered away on abortion rights and women’s health. According to the polls, McAuliffe continues to lead Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and is boosted by a 20 percent margin among women.

All this should give Republicans pause, especially if the GOP intends to narrow a two-decades-old gender gap in voter support. To win in 2016, the GOP must show itself capable of addressing things that affect day-to-day life, which has been proven to appeal to female voters, as well as the Democratic Party. Otherwise it should expect to wander in the wilderness in the coming years.

Right now, it seems Republicans are still not quite grasping the significance of female support. Last Tuesday, Newark’s Cory Booker defeated a Tea Party firebrand to win election to the U.S. Senate by just over 10 points, but his advantage among females was nearly twice that number. Booker may have had problems, but his opponent's hostility towards modernity sealed the deal. Meanwhile, in New York City’s mayoral contest, Republican Joe Lhota’s uphill battle to gain support in a Democratic stronghold became even more difficult as he stood idly by while three women were escorted from a campaign stop at a Brooklyn synagogue simply because, well, they were women.

Cuccinelli’s and Lhota’s woes are emblematic of the Republicans’ problem of being perceived as an out-of-touch boys club, focused only on appeasing male voters. The last time women cast a plurality for the Republican presidential nominee was in 1988. It’s not like female support is minor; since 1964, women have cast the majority of votes in presidential elections.

To put the importance of females voters into perspective, consider this: Barack Obama’s reelection was made possible by his 11-point win among women, which more than compensated for his seven-point deficit among men. In 2012, women were 53 percent of the electorate, and in elections it’s about the numbers.

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/21/hillary-clinton-vs-the-gop-boys-club-fighting-for-the-female-vote.html

[Beacool]

1. I have no doubt in my mind that if Hillary runs, the GOP "boys" will be toast.

She's used to dealing with, as she put in in 2008, "difficult men". She's dealt with them since her husband became governor. If there ever was a candidate who has had everything thrown at her, including the kitchen sink, that is Hillary. She's tough and she takes names.

So beware GOP, if Hillary chooses to run in 2016 your party will lose the WH.

[AtomicKitten]

2. poor hillary - so put upon

After struggling for months to dent Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy, the campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is now unleashing what one Clinton aide called a “kitchen sink” fusillade against Mr. Obama, pursuing five lines of attack since Saturday in hopes of stopping his political momentum.

link: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26clinton.html

[Beacool]

4. Sweets, get over your bitterness.

[DFW]

3. Any Democratic woman candidate would be the subject of a coordinated hate machine on the right

Tammy Duckworth, a helicopter pilot who lost both legs in action in Iraq was called a "cut-and-run" coward by her deadbeat dad Republican opponent, and she lost a race for a House seat to him the first time, even though the asshole had never even served.

They'd do it for Hillary, they'd do it for Elizabeth Warren, they'd do it for Mother Teresa if she were running as a Democrat.

[libdem4life]

5. Their worst 3 nightmares ... "Please proceed, Madam President" ... with a (D) ... named Hillary

Just an example of the GOB's* very real misogyny fear...it was women who brokered the deal to reopen government. "See, can't trust them...can't trust them to fall in line and heed our superiority. Now look what they went and did." I'll bet if you held a closed vote on a Barefoot and Pregnant Law, sans women leaders, it would pass with flying colors.

First a black, now a woman. Got to say, I'm liking this idea better every day.

(Good 'ol Boys)