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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Healthcare, equal pay and gender discrimination are key to winning women’s vote in November

(Denver) - Ten weeks before the November general election, women say their vote will be shaped by the presidential candidates’ positions on affordable healthcare (87%); equal pay (80%); and gender discrimination (79%), according to a new Center for the Advancement of Women survey.  Other issues of importance to women include domestic violence (76%), childcare and family-friendly employment conditions (67%), abortion rights (66%), affordable family planning (56%) and the appointment of Supreme Court Justices (54%).

Survey results were announced today by CFAW President Faye Wattleton at the Democratic National Convention, from a national representative survey of 500 adult women conducted during August 21-24.

One in every four women who supported Sen. Clinton during the primary say they plan to vote for Sen. McCain. However, they say Sen. Obama could win their vote by focusing on affordable family planning (61%); healthcare access (51%); and gender discrimination (45%).

While Sen. Obama leads Sen. McCain by eight points among surveyed women, 44 percent say they expect Sen.  Obama to win, with 31 percent favoring Sen. McCain. Twenty-two percent said they didn’t know.

One in every three women believe Sen. Hillary Clinton should have been the vice presidential pick. Of these, 51 percent backed Sen. Clinton’s and 41 percent supported Sen. Obama during the primaries.

Sixty-five percent of women, both Democrats and Republicans, are glad that Sen. Clinton competed for the Democratic nomination. Only 18 percent of those surveyed consider her campaign’s demise as a setback for women.

CFAW will continue tracking women priorities leading up to the general election.