Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin as a Fundraising Strategy?
Women control more than half of the wealth in the United States but typically they cling to it rather than give it to political candidates. So, if a candidate could unlock half of the money in the country, they'd be a sure thing, right?
Well, money doesn't always lead to victory, but the correlation is pretty strong. So, why, when women vote in higher percentages than men, donate to charities at a higher rate than men, and control significant wealth, do they typically constitute less than half of the total amount of political contributions?
A new study by the Women's Campaign Forum Foundation that examined women's political giving found that political donations from women increased slightly this year. To date, women have donated $109,489,920 to the two presidential nominees. In addition, women contributed $60 million to Hillary Clinton's presidential bid—accounting for 49.8 percent of her contributions. (The data by the Center for Responsive Politics breaks down the numbers by gender when it is able to determine a donor's gender.) Typically, women account for around 35 percent of contributions. In 2000, women gave $37 million (34 percent); in 2004, $115 million (35 percent); and so far this year, their total amounts to 36 percent of the total. (And these figures included only up until July.)
So, why the gender gap in political donations?
The foundation has an interesting point: Women contribute to enact social change. For women, that desire to enact social change correlates to contributions to charitable organizations, not political candidates. This shows that women don't think that politics is a worthy place for their money, perhaps because not enough social change has been enacted in their lifetimes. While female voters might not think much social change is enacted through politics, there have been great strides over the last 90 years. Women gained the right to vote in 1920, but still, women constitute only 16.6 percent of the House and 16 percent of the Senate. This is a dramatic increase from 15 years ago, when there were only four female senators and 28 House members. We have a ways to go, but in my book, that is definitely social change.
This year, it seems women are getting on the bandwagon. Of Clinton's donations, nearly 50 percent came from women. That's much closer to the percentage of women who vote. Barack Obama's donations from women are slightly lower, at 41.7 percent. John McCain's percentage is drastically lower than both of the other candidates, and also the average, at 28 percent, but this data ends before Sarah Palin was on the ticket.
Clinton's high percentage of female donors shows that with more women in politics, women everywhere are inspired and see social change. It's most likely Palin has increased McCain's showing with women, but we'll just have to wait and see.
Tags: presidential election 2008 | Hillary Clinton | campaigns | female voters | Sarah Palin
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Reader Comments
Sarah Palin...."Pit Bull with LIPSTICK time for Biden!"
SARAH PALIN is the "Greatest!"
I am looking forward to the debate between Palin and Biden. I truly hope that Palin has the "Pit Bull with LIPSTICK" ready and waiting for Biden. In fact, after the debate is over ~~ Palin should have done enough to close Biden's mouth and to actually close Obama's mouth as well. All women know how to do that and do it with such proper manner as well.
I am a diehard Hillary Rodham Clinton VOTER. However, I am honored and pleased to VOTE for John McCain and Sarah Palin in November.
I can't vote for a person that states one thing and does the other....such as Obama stated from his own mouth that Hillary Rodham Clinton would be on anyone's short list for Vice President. Afterwards, Obama announced that Biden was Vice President. In fact, I do NOT believe that Barack Hussein Obama ever contacted Hillary Rodham Clinton to be Vice President!
Sarah Palin is the GREATEST, her family is down to earth, hard workers, and the Palin Family have a charming and special little boy as well.
McCain and Palin is America's REAL ANSWER TO THE ENERGY CRISIS,
America's REAL ANSWER TO REFORM CORRUPT WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT, America's REAL ANSWER TO GETTING AMERICA BACK ON TRACK with opportunities for all people, and America's REAL ANSWER FOR STRAIGHT TALK AND REAL SOLUTIONS!
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO ~~ John McCain and Sarah Palin!!!!!!!
"SARAH ~~ YOU GO GIRL ~~ EAT BIDEN ALIVE!"
CLOSE BIDEN AND OBAMA'S MOUTH!!!!
DIEHARD HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON VOTER ----
SICK OF OBAMA'S UNTRUE STORIES ----
VOTING FOR JOHN MCCAIN AND SARAH PALIN!!!!
Why not
One reason I can think of would be to improve it and rake it over to armour it from the hysterical unprecedented attack the media has sought to deliver whilst giving Obama a free ride. Maybe they are not ready or they are waiting for something. Pehaps the tax returns are low priority whilst the Campaign has been on and maybe Sarah does not want to release her tax returns unless she wins and maybe she thinks it does not look too likely with 'put Obama on a pedestal media'
He does not eat meat? Not halal enough for him? Anyone given him a bacon/ham/ pork sausage sandwich? Anyone seen him eat any? When whatever you do or say is wrong and whatever someone else does and says is right, you keep your head down.
The media are working for Obama so who does Obama really represent? Does journalism exist any longer for the mainstream media? Opinions and smears and takes and a lack of objectivity and fair or open mindedness. Boycott the media and its advertisers. I am frankly appalled! UK
VP
When will Sarah Palin release her tax returns. Everyone else has already released theirs. This is unheard of for a candidate to refuse to release her tax returns. Has anyone else ever heard of such a thing?
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