There's plenty of reasons to believe that white women make up the most important demographic in this election. Obama practically has over 90% support of African Americans - male and female; McCain has locked in the white male vote, though fortunately not to the same extent; and notwithstanding any big shake-up, Obama will get most of the Latino vote - at least in the important battleground states.
However, since September 3rd, John McCain has seen a sudden surge in his numbers in national polls (what can you say, he's a surge-lovin' kinda guy). Whereas before the Republican National Convention Obama had a consistent 2 to 3 percent lead over McCain, since the announcement of Sarah Palin as his running mate, McCain has usurped Obama's consistent lead. Why? Look to white women. Before the convention shenanigans, Obama led McCain among white women by 8%. Ever since hockey moms have been swept off their feet by Palin Power like a merman who just saved their life (come on, people, don't you watch Family Guy?), McCain is up among the same demographic group by 12%. Now, I'm no mathematician, but that's a 20% shift overnight. Now, take into account that 56 million women will be voting this November, and looks like the numbers add up.
If we get that far - that white women will make the difference in this election - then Hillary's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits needs to roll up their (suit-pants) sleeves and hit the road - FAST! After all, they're willing to do whatever it takes to keep McCain from the White House.
But wait, don't get too excited. Despite saying she's willing to do anything to get Obama elected just a couple of weeks ago in Denver, Mrs. Clinton has made it clear she will not go on the record attacking Sarah Palin. Instead, she will stick to talking up Obama's record and making a case to people across the country why McCain cannot take over the White House in 09. Yes, because that is exactly what she did during the convention, right? Think again. Not one time in her speech did she mention that Obama was ready to be the Commander-in-Chief.
The fact is, Hillary's ego has once again resulted in her putting her own ambitions and her own interests ahead of the party, ahead of the 18 million people who voted for her, and ahead of the country.
It's clear that Obama and Joe Biden can't attack Palin. As soon as Biden had the audacity to tell the people what they need to hear - that putting Palin in the White House is a backward step for women - the McCain camp and the GOP will play the sexist card. And I will argue that the democratic strategy to just ignore Palin and somehow hope that the buzz surrounding the ex-Wasilla mayor will die in the next 2 months will indeed result in a Republican White House. Obama's been on the national stage for nineteen months and people are still not tired of him - at least not yet.
No. What does a chihuahua do when a pitbull bites it? It bites back. And it bites hard (I'm not sure if this even works, but I think chihuahuas are cool). Hillary Clinton needs to tame her off-the-charts ego and remind women that the reason they supported her wasn't because she has a vagina (we won't get into a debate about whether this is true or not), but because of who she was and what she stood for. The Hill-pack's values run diametrically opposed to Sarah Palin. They are pro-choice, pro-gun control, and pro-stem-cell.
But of course Hillary can't do it alone. She needs other women like Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano, and Claire McCaskill - her own Lena, Carmen, and Tibby (no, I did not know them - thanks Wikipedia).
It's time for Hillary to stop over-promising and under-delivering; it's time for her to stop putting her super-ego ahead of the nation's interest; it's time for her to convince the other 18 million people who didn't vote for her in 08 that they should vote for her in 2016.
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