by Katie Fretland
Neither Barack Obama nor John McCain has secured the vote of the majority of women voters, according to a new poll by Lifetime Networks released today. More women support Obama, but nearly 20 percent of women who supported Hillary Clinton now support McCain.
The poll conducted by Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway of WomenTrend and Democratic pollster Celinda Lake of Lake Research shows that 49 percent of women prefer Obama and 38 percent prefer McCain. Six percent of those women said they were only leaning toward a candidate. Ten percent are undecided, the poll found.
Nearly 90 percent of black women and 62 percent of Hispanic women polled prefer Obama, while nearly half of white women prefer McCain. More Hispanic women remain undecided (14 percent), compared to black women at four percent and white women at 11 percent.
The top issue for women was the economy, followed by the Iraq War, healthcare and prescription drugs and education.
Forty-nine percent said they would like to vacation with the Obamas, compared to 26 percent for the McCains.
Many of the women who like Obama noted his personal attributes, such as intelligence, youth, speaking ability, honesty and energy, according to the poll. A smaller percentage said they like his general stance on issues or the new ideas he represents to them.
Women who have a negative opinion of Obama cite worries about lack of experience and qualifications for the presidency. A smaller percentage dislike his position on issues such as abortion, healthcare and national security, his campaign style and changing of positions on issues, the pollsters said.
Many women who like McCain said he has the right experience and qualifications for the presidency. A smaller percentage said they like him for positive personal characteristics and stances on issues.
Women who hold a negative view of McCain noted similarities to the Bush administration, age, stance on issues such as the Iraq War and his political affiliation, according to the poll.
Obama also leads among independent women voters, although about 20 percent remain undecided. Forty-two percent like Obama, compared to 30 percent for McCain.
The also studied Hillary Clinton's effect on the preferences of women voters. Forty-four percent of women said they believe a woman president will take office in the next eight years, but only three in 10 believe that president will be Clinton.
Most women who voted for Clinton now support Obama (76 percent), compared to McCain at 18 percent. Most did not say that sexism played a role in Clinton's loss. Rather, the poll shows that 34 percent blamed the loss on "the kind of campaign she ran," 31 percent said "who she is and what she stands for" and 21 percent said "because she is a woman."
Most women reported that gender does not matter in a candidate's choice of a running mate. Fifty-five percent of women voters said that Obama's selection of a female potential vice president makes no difference, and 62 percent said the same for McCain.
However, twice as many women would be more likely to support Obama if he chose a woman (29 percent) compared to McCain (15 percent.) Twenty percent of women said they would be less likely to vote for McCain if he chose a female running mate.
The poll was part of Lifetime's Every Women Counts campaign, which encourages women to participate in politics, register to vote and run for office. The campaign, which began in 1992, has participated in five presidential election cycles.
This month, Lifetime also launched a bus tour through 11 U.S. cities, highlighting the importance of women voters and women's leadership. The bus tour stops in Colorado and Minnesota for the Democratic and Republican national conventions.
Other poll findings:
69 percent: Women who think Clinton's campaign will help would run for president in the future
51 percent: Would share a carpool with Obama
31 percent: Would share a carpool with McCain
Methods:
The poll's results were based on interviews with 500 women across the country with an additional 100 black women and 100 Hispanic women. The margin of error for the main sample is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points, while the margins of error for the subgroups is higher.
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Comments
I find this very interesting. Nobody can figure women out, so maybe this entire article is wrong also. I know this much, I trully hope they vote SUPREME COURT.
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Chicagoan and Southsider | August 5, 2008 3:45 PM
Wow is this a dumb bit of information.
What type of ride does Obama have?
Odd thing is, if liberals are so 'green' why won't they carpool with McCain.
Posted by: Batboy | August 5, 2008 3:52 PM
Obama insulted all of the women that supported Hillary. I for one don't think women should give Obama a chance. Lets have a complete no women vote for Obama election. Next time he decided to offend women, he will think twice about it. My vote is now for John McCain.
Posted by: Mandy | August 5, 2008 4:00 PM
What is amazing this year is how many people have bought the fundamentally childish notion that, if you don’t like the way things are going, the answer is to write a blank check for generic “change,” empowering someone chosen not on the basis of any track record but on the basis of his skill reading a speechwriter's words from a teleprompter. Obama is empty.
Posted by: Ottoman | August 5, 2008 4:13 PM
Neither I nor any of my friends/acquaintances have ever been asked to participate in any of these polls. Who do they use?
I can assure you that 60 of the 61 women in my office are pro Obama. We do not care who his vp choice is - woman or man - just as long as they can help get in the vote. None of us believe he is too young or too inexperienced - he's just right. We are 59 caucasian and 2 black - ages from mid 20's to 70's and Chicagoans.
Posted by: Rebecca | August 5, 2008 4:27 PM
Only 500 women surveyed? How can this even be taken seriously then as a valid survey? Somebody must really be scratching for some news fodder. This just adds to the "celebrity" status the media is making Obama into - all style, no substance. Surveys like this are truly a waste.
Posted by: Tina | August 5, 2008 4:39 PM
Bill Clinton said it yesterday. Obama is not ready to be president. Hillary is and will be in 2012 when McCain likely will not see reelection. The campaign for 2012 begins November 5. No self-respecting Hillary supporter will vote for Obama after the way he and his staff trashed her and Bill and then humiliated her with that joint appearance after the primaries.
Posted by: Hillarette | August 5, 2008 4:45 PM
"Obama insulted all of the women that supported Hillary."
How so? By having the gall to challenge her?
Posted by: ClaireZ | August 5, 2008 4:52 PM
Mandy-
Can you please be more specific?
If not Mandy, can any PUMA woman explain to me how exactly Obama offended women? Not his supporters, not pundits or columnists or talking heads. But Barack Obama himself- what did he do that was offensive to you?
I'm really curious. And if the "you're likable enough" soundbite, or whatever gripe you have with the DNC rules, are all that you have, please save it. Please tell me something substantive Obama himself has done to eternally lose the chance of getting your vote, despite the fact that you completely agree with him on all the issues.
I'm really curious.
And I don't mean to be condescending. But you PUMA folks are seriously confounding and beginning to irk me.
Posted by: JeffRob | August 5, 2008 5:17 PM
Women who have been for Hillary but now vote for McCain need to think hard about what they want from the White House. Hillary's political agenda was very similar to Obama's but very different from McCain's.
Do these women who now back McCain realize that they want their children to stay in Iraq and their gas prices to rise too much to drive their car? This is just the tip of the iceberg.
They should forget about issues that don't affect their daily living and focus on what does. They say that Obama hurt their feelings. Hey, they haven't felt anything yet if McCain becomes president.
I'd rather have my feelings hurt than watch prices soar so high that I couldn't feed and clothe my children. So many people are losing their homes and jobs with the Republican agenda. Think about it ladies!
Posted by: Viv | August 5, 2008 5:23 PM
I would hang up on a pollster who asked me anything as stupid as "Which candidate (and their spouse) would you most like to go on a vacation with?" Does being fun to party with qualify someone for the presidency? Do men get asked such stupid and irrelevant questions as well?
Posted by: anne | August 5, 2008 5:35 PM
I think Mandy needs to put on her big girl panties and deal with the grown up world. I doubt she's even of voting age.
Posted by: Susana | August 5, 2008 5:36 PM
Does this newspaper ever report the truth ? I wish you would stop the love affair with Obama just because he is from Chicago.
Posted by: BCC | August 5, 2008 5:46 PM
Unless a woman wants jackbooted government thugs telling her what she may or may not do with her own body, I'd recommend she votes for Obama and the Democratic ticket. I'm not just talking about the right to an abortion; the Bush administration has just released a draft defining birth control pills and IUDs as "abortion". Watch out, women of America, the GOP is a millimeter from nationalizing your reproductive organs. If that's not communism, I don't know what is.
Posted by: Patrick | August 5, 2008 5:46 PM
Anyone who votes for McBush needs to have their head examined. What total unequivical BS coming from the McCain-Bush-Rove-Cheney camp, including those horrible Paris Hilton commercials. Here is a group of men who IMO created nearly all the problems this country currently faces, with their mercenary lies and new laws to help their friends in big business and they don't even try to hide it and yet there are still those who think this country is on the right path. Included in this group of delusional dimwits are racists of both genders who would rather see this country completey ruined, as long as it's a white man at the helm. God forbit should a man of color be elected, they say among eachother......
Listen up, women and know this : those are the same people who say no woman should run this country, when you're back is turned. To them, only white men should be in charge. Well, white men have been in charge and look what they did.
Posted by: Middleage Whitewoman | August 5, 2008 5:55 PM
Well, women can disappoint.
Posted by: joe | August 5, 2008 6:20 PM
Surprise! More than 90% of black women prefer obama, while about 50% of white women prefer McCain. Another good statistic of which demographic group is really the most racist.
Posted by: BDD | August 5, 2008 6:27 PM
After hearing about how many women fell in love with Clinton and voted for him, I want to know how many woman want to go on that vacation without Michelle ha, I'm serious?! Aren't they going to ask Boxers or Briefs? What was the percentage who liked Obama's personal attributes, come on now, let us have that number ha??
Posted by: STH | August 5, 2008 6:32 PM
Obama insulted all of the women that supported Hillary. I for one don't think women should give Obama a chance. Lets have a complete no women vote for Obama election. Next time he decided to offend women, he will think twice about it. My vote is now for John McCain.
Posted by: Mandy
Really? So you don't think McCain insulted all women when he suggested his wife compete in a wet t shirt contest in front of a bunch of bikers in Sturgis?
Posted by: Cheryl Hussein | August 5, 2008 6:35 PM
I'm a woman and NOT supporting Obama.
Posted by: Dusty | August 5, 2008 6:47 PM
The bottom line is that McCain treats women like crap:
His first wife: he cheated on her when he met Cindy... left his first wife and kids
Cindy: lied to her when he met her, told her he was younger than he was... also called her the c-word in public
Chelsea Clinton: McCain is known for his poor attempts at humor "do you know why Chelsea Clinton is so ugly... her mother is Janet Reno"... McCain made that "joke" when Chelsea was only a teenager.
Grumpy McCain is a nasty man. What woman could possibly bring herself to vote for someone who clearly hates women.
Posted by: Funny | August 5, 2008 7:03 PM
Wow Viv...Your pretty confused. If your concern is the Iraq war and gas prices, Obama is the LAST person you should be looking to vote for.
Do you really believe pulling the troops out right away or on some stupid timeline he pulled out of his hat is going to be the correct move? Do you have ANY concept of what a regional conflict is? If "hasn't a clue what he's doing" Obama pulls these troops out, you better go look up what a regional confict is, cause that's what we'll have on our hands. If that happens, you'll be praying for the day we had $4 gas, and wishing we never had to restart the draft. Just remember, Obama was the guy who actually offered an opinoion on the Iraq war, WITHOUT a shred of Intel. You can argue all day long the intel was wrong, but what is wrong is professing an opionion with NO CLUE about facts.
That's what you want?
That's the differnece between hillary and obama. THAT's why McCain is closer to Hillary than Obama is. On life or death issues, the only ones our government should be worried about, SHE was right.
Posted by: vatsi | August 5, 2008 7:22 PM
How could women vote for John McCain, an arrogant anti-choice, and anti-equal pay candidate? Unless you own an oil company, voting for McCain is against your interests.
Posted by: Paul | August 5, 2008 7:27 PM
I absolutely hate these generalizations. I'm a woman, and I DON'T prefer Obama. This is just another way that the media loves to play the Jedi mind trick on people.
Posted by: Laur | August 5, 2008 7:34 PM
Vatsi- If I may...
You're the confused one. There was a regional conflict before we got there, a regional conflict before the US even existed, there's a regional conflict right now, and there will be when your grandkids' grandkids graduate from college, regardless of whether US troops leave in 2009, 10, or 20.
So do we want US soldiers to continue to be the casualties of this regional conflict, or do we want to spend our time and energy on protecting our own homeland and our interests against terrorism, which is currently recollecting and regrouping in Afghanistan, which guess what: is NOT where our troops are.
Obama's the right one.
Posted by: JeffRob | August 5, 2008 8:03 PM
Well the idioticy of this story astounds me so I will ponder the question of who has the more attractive wife?
Posted by: nick | August 5, 2008 9:04 PM
Cheryl Hussein 6:35 PM - That is so grade school. McCain was flattering his very beautiful wife and saying something about her being able to win the Miss Buffalo Chip(ha) beauty contest....he had no idea it was a topless affair, ha ha, I thought it was funny. If ALL WOMEN are insulted by that, then they aren't very confident to begin with ha.
FUNNY7:03pm-McCain and his wife tried to work out their marriage for 7 years after he was a POW for years and she went thru her experience. I don't fault either one of them for that. My husband told me he was older than he was, we've been married 20 years ha. I'm confused, the 'C' word according to Andrea Mitchel means CELEBRITY ha.I love his humor. That monkey joke was told when he was a Senior in H.S. 22yrs ago before things were PC. I would talk to you more SWEETIE but I gotta go ha.
VIV- McCAin is more lib than conserv and Hill is more conserv that Obama. Obama was voted most FAR LEFT among Senate.
Posted by: STH | August 5, 2008 9:09 PM
jeffrob:
You keep thinking that way. Yes there was a regional conflict. However swords and spears don't cause mass causalities. Keep living in your little fantasy world and remember when Iran launches, and Israel retaliates, it won’t matter to you, you'll be to occupied praying to you lord and savior Obama.
Posted by: vatsi | August 5, 2008 9:18 PM
What about the guys? Who do they like? Or don't we matter?
Posted by: john patrick | August 5, 2008 9:22 PM
Really? Did this come from Obama - he should know better?
Posted by: Dee | August 5, 2008 10:51 PM
McCain offered up his wife for a nude beauty contest and she thought it was a fine idea. Sturgis, S.D.
Posted by: Ron M | August 5, 2008 11:03 PM
Women prefer Oprahama? To what and so? That should reinforce what we already know.
Posted by: therockofages | August 5, 2008 11:31 PM
Funny how many lies are being distributed here. Obama told women to get over it. He thinks that all women are just going to run to him because he is a democrat. Well we don't get it. I read through all the posts here and I am amazed how some post that they are in an office of over 50 women and they are all supporting Obama. I work with women, and only 5 of the 17 support Obama. 13 of them supported Hillary. Most don't think Obama cares about women or womens issues.
Lets get this straight. Just because Obama is a democrat, does not mean he is going to get womens votes.
And by the way, McCain will make a fine President. Don't try to scare women into thinking that McCain is going to reverse all womens right. This is the same thing the dems said 8 years ago when Bush was running. How many womens issues have been changed in the last 7.5 years?
People were running around saying that black people would get dragged behing trucks if Bush got elected. What a bunch of waffle. Don't keep spreading these lies.
John McCain will protect all Americans. Will Obama? Obama wants to talk. Last time a President talked, he left this country undefended. Clintons 8 years left us ready for attack. And 4 years of Obama will leave us ready for attack. Not to mention he wants to raise taxes, make working people pay for everyones health care and he is opposed to doing anything about gas prices.
Wake up America. We deserve better than Obama.
Posted by: Mandy | August 6, 2008 1:26 AM
So do the chimps
Posted by: The Guy | August 6, 2008 1:33 AM
John-you don't have to worry, this site has less estrogen here than you think. I recognize a couple of these ' gals' and they're no ladies ha ha.
Posted by: STH | August 6, 2008 2:52 AM
It is all about reproductive choice, I choose to choose. Obama!
Posted by: leester | August 6, 2008 3:21 AM
I think that I'm staying home this year. I would have voted for Hillary, and still would like to vote for Hillary. But who reads write-in votes?
Posted by: Disgusted | August 6, 2008 4:31 AM
I am a woman. I would sooner poke my eyes out with a fork than vote for Obama, or Hillary for that matter. I THINK, therefore I will vote for McCain.
Posted by: smartgirl | August 6, 2008 5:57 AM
I don't like either of the candidates.
Posted by: Margo Lipinski | August 6, 2008 6:39 AM
leester | August 6, 2008 3:21 AM >that could mean anything, what reproductive choices is he offering to you that you can use, that McCAin isn't offering that would be the whole basis for you to vote for him?????
Posted by: STH | August 6, 2008 4:23 PM