Women's vote crucial for Hillary, Obama
Dems see her as stronger leader, him as more inspiring
Hispanic woman: "I like Hillary because she shows stamina from all her trials and tribulations. Everything we have thrown at her she has managed to deflect. She was also first lady, which would be unprecedented for a new president."
White woman: "After this administration, we need a massive cleanup, and who is historically better at cleaning up?"
Black woman: "I like Hillary, but I'd really like to see an African-American in the White House before I die."
This yearning to see someone like yourself in the Oval Office is understandable after 218 years of white men at the helm. African-American women, who are overwhelmingly Democrats, will have a dilemma in the primary: They will likely have to choose between the front-runners, a tenacious woman, Hillary Clinton, and an eloquent African-American man, Barack Obama.
The women's vote is crucial to both. Women register in greater numbers and they vote in greater numbers. They also are more influenced by gender than men when they cast their ballot: They are more likely to vote for a woman and more likely to vote against one.
The conundrum for women is best expressed by the feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who is not throwing her passionate support behind Hillary but has given money to both candidates. She is responding the way many Democrats are: A Pew Research study released in April shows Democrats perceive Clinton as the stronger leader but Obama as more inspiring.
Still, Clinton carries far more baggage than Obama, and the word often used to describe her candidacy is "polarizing."
"The psychology for Hillary is complex," says Shawn Parry-Giles, an associate professor of communication at the University of Maryland. "Women historically have not risen to leadership positions the way men do. It's changing and you see that with women governors and Nancy Pelosi, but there is still the sense that politics is best handled by men."
With a woman president, she says, there is also the aspect of the commander in chief: "Women have not occupied leadership roles in the military and that is going to be a big obstacle for Hillary."
Those who don't like Hillary tend to be more personal in their objections: They are quick to criticize her relationship with her sexually errant husband, former President Bill Clinton. They disapprove of her ambition, believing that she stayed with Bill to get entree into the presidential race.
A Gallup poll this month showed that Hillary Clinton's image with Americans has been sliding: 45 percent had a favorable view, while 52 percent didn't.
Those who admire her mention "her determination and perseverance, her forthrightness, her standing up for her beliefs, and her aggressiveness," Gallup found. Those who don't admire her say she is "shifty" and an opportunist who has no morals or ethics.
Obama and John Edwards, who haven't been on the political scene as long as Clinton, do not press the same hot buttons. (However, Clinton has recently been widening her lead on Obama in the various polls. It shows she is having a more positive impression on voters.)
But part of the issue, as Parry-Giles noted, is a subliminal resistance to women in leadership. Pelosi had to work extra hard to gain respect from her male cohorts in Congress.
This country didn't get women's suffrage until 1920, long after Great Britain, Australia and Canada. And other important democracies such as Britain, India and Israel have had powerful women in charge. Today, Chile has a woman president. So do Liberia and Germany. Segolene Royal came close to becoming president of France. Her Socialist politics were more of an issue than her gender.
It's sad commentary for this country that equality for blacks and women is taking so long to achieve.