Source: The Boston Globe – 11/24/2007

Thoughts: Among many of the unique variables in the 2008 Democratic primaries (and possibility the general election itself) is the fact that there is a woman in the race that actually has a chance of winning. Riding on the strength of her name and on her term as a U.S. Senator, Hillary Clinton has stormed on the scene with a money-making machine that is matched by none other than Barack Obama – who happens to have a unique variable of his own.

As it is currently shaping up, the two will have a race between each other to the end through the national primaries. Hillary is hoping that the women-vote will be enough to tip the scales in her favor, while Obama has a strong base with the black-vote. The overlap happens to be the black woman. Who can entice her more? According to the article below, Hillary is doing well with the blue-collar; college educated category of women, while Oprah endorses Obama.

At the moment, Obama is in position to win the battle for this small group. While Hillary’s popularity has increased in this category, Obama’s fresh image, positive attitude, and personal demographic are just too much for Hillary to overcome.

(Note: Yes, I use the term “black” rather than “African American” since the latter term is not correct. This is not meant as a derogatory term, but as a proper category name. As we know, many of the black demographic come through the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe, so the African American label is incorrect. My hope is the future will bring us a time when we won’t have to look at demographics based on skin color, but I don’t see that happening for a few more decades.)

Article:  “Blue-collar women see hopes in Clinton”
By Marcella Bombardieri

Hillary Clinton’s campaign is capitalizing on an overlooked strain of feminism in blue-collar women – nurse’s aides, factory workers, farmers, and single mothers – to help fuel her strength among the Democratic candidates for president.

Even many working-class women who have spent their lives in traditional roles at home and work have been animated by Clinton’s effort to shatter what she has called “the highest, hardest glass ceiling.”

In recent interviews, some of these Clinton supporters say that they have been impressed enough by her advocacy for healthcare and children to jettison their previous views of her as a brash, ambitious lawyer and politician. Some said a female president would do things not just differently, but better.

“We need to have a woman president,” said Honey Davis, 64, of Onawa, Iowa, a longtime nurse’s aide who has diabetes. “A woman would be a little more tender-hearted toward the people, and knowledgeable about family issues.”

In addition, Davis said, because of Clinton’s experience watching the wheels of power grind while she was first lady, the New York senator “will have some ways of getting around the old-boy type of thing.”

Clinton is viewed more favorably in general by women than men. Increased support among college-educated and professional women – her peers – helped fuel a late summer surge that nearly doubled her lead in the national polls.

(Read the rest of the article here.)

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