Last grasp for the women's vote
HAMPTON, N.H.
HILLARY CLINTON was asked Sunday night at Winnacunnet High School how important it would be for the nation to have its first woman president. The Democratic candidate answered with the C word that until now was owned by the surging Barack Obama. "Being the first woman president is a very big change," Clinton said.
That resonated deeply with undecided voter Laurie Sailer of Kensington. Sailer is a 43-year-old engineer and a project manager who works on electric power grids. She pioneered several female firsts in her career, including being the first section manager at her particular plant, responsible for 375 employees. When she works nationally and internationally, she is usually the only woman engineer on the team.
"I did like her answer on that," Sailer said of Clinton. "When we had 'Bring Your Daughters to Work Day,' which is now bring your children, the hourly employees would bring their daughters to me to show them that it's possible to do what I do as a woman."
Despite this, Sailer remained undecided two days before the New Hampshire primary because she saw Obama the same day in Exeter. She said Obama articulated his answers a little better on healthcare, Iraq, and education.
More importantly, Sailer felt - pun intended, given her job - more electricity at the Obama event.
"She hasn't rallied the crowd like Obama," Sailer said of Clinton. "I don't hear the same enthusiasm. Maybe it's because the crowd was tired waiting for her (it was Clinton's last event Sunday, for which she was an hour late). There was nothing wrong with what she said. She gave great answers. Her husband did an awesome job as president; she had influence and their partnership did well. But I'm just not getting the same enthusiasm. They (Clinton and Obama) say pretty much the same thing on most of the issues. They're two strong candidates. I'm confident either one would change the country.
"I need to go back and look at a tape of the debates. But right now, I'm leaning more to Obama. I can't give you a pinpoint reason why. . . It's just a feeling that with Obama, he might actually, with his background, change our image in the world. In 2002 to 2003, I worked in Canada on a project. The Canadians can't stand what we've done with the war."
Sailer's struggle is symbolic of the emerging story of the women's vote. In winning the Iowa Democratic caucuses last week, Obama took 35 percent of the women's vote, compared with 30 percent for Clinton, according to the entrance poll done for the Associated Press and the television networks. Post-Iowa polls in New Hampshire show Obama rallying from as much as 23 percentage points behind Clinton in September to as much as a 13-point lead. An unscientific straw poll Saturday of 200 undecided women voters in New Hampshire conducted for Lifetime Television's "Every Woman Counts" found that 50 percent of women are still undecided. Those who had decided were almost equally split between Obama and Clinton.
Sailer said one reason the "glass ceiling" appeal of Clinton did not significantly seal the deal with women is because Obama has been more successful tapping into universal themes in the process of his own barrier-breaking campaign. Sailer saw firsthand some of those barriers in 1992 when she finished a project in Hickory, N.C. Her replacement was African-American. She was shocked as the black coworker was offered apartments in only the black part of town. Wherever they had lunch, they were stared at.
"I wonder if he could bridge that kind of prejudice," Sailer said of Obama. "That would be a tall task. But I think he can do it and do it well."
Last night, 24 hours later, Sailer said Clinton's decision to hold a long, if not rousing, question-and-answer session grew on her. It was now a 50-50 tie between Obama and Clinton. She said she would likely not make up her mind until she gets into the voting booth.
"I realize now that I was comparing different styles and that is hard," Sailer said. "Obama was saying 'Rally behind me and things will get done.' She was saying, 'Look at what I've done.' She is the most experienced. What it comes down to is, do I want her experience, but the baggage she has, or do I want a fresh face who says 'We can get it done.' But we don't know. I still don't know."
Derrick Z. Jackson's e-mail address is jackson@globe.com
