Just received this email from Emily’s list and thought its findings rather intriquing.
Hope ya’ll don’t mind my using my maiden diary writing here at Booman as a “cut and paste” of their Monitor’s finding… which is basically an increasing gender gap. It also seems, that women who supported W in 2004 are defecting.
Key grafs from the email are below the flip:
EMILY’s List Women’s Monitor shows widening gender gap
Democrats have a tremendous opportunity to win women in 2006, according to the latest EMILY’s List Women’s Monitor – “Women at the Center of Political Change.” The gender gap stands at a whopping 16 points, largely because women are deeply dissatisfied with the Republican agenda.
Republicans have failed to hold on to the support of the women who helped re-elect Bush in 2004, with one-third of female Bush voters saying they plan to vote Democratic or are undecided heading into the 2006 congressional elections.
News coverage of the Women’s Monitor has been extensive, with stories by in the Christian Science Monitor, Newsweek, and Slate, among other national media.
The results from the Women’s Monitor are just one indication that Democrats have an opportunity to make great gains in 2006, with EMILY’s List leading the way to victory.
“From the intrusion of government into private family decisions, the risk created by efforts to privatize Social Security, and the `my way or the highway’ foreign policy of the Bush administration, the Republicans’ own agenda is driving women away from their party.”
EMILY’s List President Ellen R. Malcolm
The report is here: Emily’s List Report
This is great news, and thanks for sharing this in your first diary here!
And I think we can see from today’s Senate actions just how important women are to the political process. Not that we needed proof, but today was special thanks for Senators Boxer and Murray.
Thanks, SusanHu.
Here’s more for anyone who is interested.
Emily’s list issued a press release at Monitor Press Release
In the release, Malcolm (founder of Emily’s List) says:
Their press release recaps the study’s findings and I put the link to the full report in the diary. Here’s the release’s summary of what we can do:
Q for you: How do you think we can appeal to these women?
How about Standing for SOMETHING, and not backing down from it or expalining a myriad different nuances. Stand for what we say our core values are. Quit apologizing for being concerned about Women, Poverty, Jobs, Peace, Inclusiveness. Stand up and Stand Strong!
I want the Dems to quit being such spineless wimps and to just take a damn stand on what we believe in!
(sorry, got carried away, but that’s what I want and I bet what a whole lot of other people want)
Contrary to the contention that women can not be appealed to on the economy alone, I believe the economy IS the key issue for women.
Nothing impacts the family’s main care-giver (that these women seem to identify with themselves) more than the health of her family, and health care issues have been ignored by Republicans, with the exception of the so-called prescription drug break.
And health care costs are probably the biggest bite in the pocket of the un- and under-insured in this country. Many of whom are single-parent, head-of- household mothers.
Combine the direct issue of sky-rocketing health costs with the fact that voters believe the Republicans have gutted jobs benefits, which indirectly is a high impact on employee health programs, then Democrats are more attractive as candidates.
According to Democracy Corps’ latest national poll voters (not separated by gender) believe the Democrats are more likely to get something done regarding health care issues. Another point for the good guys.
I say target these swing women on this issue, selling the point that Democrats plan universal health care. Seems at the very least Democrats HAVE to advocate and legislate universal health care for all minor children. Agreed? Add that Democrats will fight to restore employee benefits by making ALL big employers (think Wal-Mart) have to add them to their employees’ hiring packages, then we’re talking winner!
For more analysis of this poll, go here.
I had some thoughts on it in my diary last weekend.
It’s an important study. Thanks for highlighting it again. Welcome, and keep those diaries coming!