AllPolitics - Gender Gap '96 - Apr. 17, 1996 AllPolitics - News

Clinton Courting The Women's Vote

By Marc Watts/CNN

CHICAGO (April 17) -- Since the 1980s, women voters have been gravitating toward Democratic candidates. This year, the gender gap seems to be approaching record levels and it's no accident.

President Bill Clinton has been courting women voters strategically, retracing the steps that helped put him over the top in 1992.

The latest CNN/USA Today/GALLUP Poll indicates that women favor Clinton over Sen. Robert Dole (R-Kan.) Dole by a whopping 27 percent -- 62 percent to 35 percent.

Talking to women, you find many reasons for their support. "He's been good for the economy," one said. "I like his stand on homosexuality," another said.

"The gender gap for Republicans in general is large," said Republican pollster Steve Lombardo. "For Dole, it's almost the Grand Canyon (96K WAV sound)."

Why are women voters so ready to flex their political muscle for Clinton -- and what has he done to widen the gender gap?

The White House maintains a busy women's outreach office and has worked hard to frame campaign issues to resonate with women across all demographic groups. Clinton's support for abortion rights, for example, plays to educated, upper-income women.

Talking about child immunization, family leave, television violence and teen smoking appeals to mothers.

Clinton also has a campaign ad about domestic abuse, paid for by the Democratic National Committee. "It's time to confront it," the ad says.

"Those issues would have a greater impact on women and would be more likely to lead to support for Clinton over Dole," Professor Susan Mezey of Chicago's Loyola University.

The president has dispatched appointees across the country to address women's groups, and cabinet heads have been instructed to set up monthly appearances for the president to show his concerns for women.

From family farms to suburbs to downtown condos, the Clinton strategy appears to be working. Clinton's appeal has convinced some lifelong Republicans to come on board.

Downtown Chicago is home for Brooke Lighton's advertising agency. Ronald Reagan and George Bush have been her presidential choices in the recent past.

But with her business improving and a Republican candidate who she says doesn't appear woman-friendly, Lipton plans to vote for Clinton.

"Dole just doesn't do much for me," Lipton said. "I can't get behind Bob Dole."

To narrow the gender gap, Dole should change the way he talks about crime and the economy, according to Lombardo, the Republican pollster.

"Women tend to look at these issues in very personal terms," Lombardo said. "They care passionately about these issues. The Dole team needs to reexamine how they talk about these issues (128K WAV sound)."

Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, however, think the problem goes deeper than that. "Dole's main weakness is that he represents the Republican Party, the congressional Republican Party, which at the moment scares many, many women voters," Greenberg said (96K WAV sound).

Citing his efforts to fight domestic abuse, Dole says he has a good record with women.

"I've been very active in domestic violence," Dole said. "The first woman appointed Secretary of the Senate was appointed by Bob Dole (128K WAV sound)."

Narrowing the gender gap may be Dole's biggest challenge as Republicans push their own plan to reach out to female voters. With seven months to go, there are clear indications this election may hinge on how strongly women voters stand by their man.

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