If Clinton doesn't get the nomination, it doesn't mean there won't be a woman president in 9 years

[Orangepeel]

(if she doesn't get the nomination, I'm obviously hoping that Obama will be president until then).

Over the past few weeks, I've seen at least a couple of posts that question the likelihood of a woman president in the foreseeable future if Clinton isn't it.

I don't believe that this is true. Even though there aren't nearly as many women in elected office as there should be when one considers the proportion of the population that are women (and even more so, the proportion of voters). But there are several women governors and senators that would make great nominees in 2012 or great VP candidates this time.

But, it is most likely that the first female president will be someone who isn't currently on your radar screen. Until Kerry gave Obama the prime speaking slot in 2004, most people outside of IL hadn't even heard of him. In 1982, Bill Clinton had just lost a bid for re-election as governor of Arkansas. Ten years later, he was president.

Even though I'm supporting Obama, I think there are plenty of reasons why one might support Clinton. I don't even begrudge people for using her gender as a criterion. When there aren't major policy differences between candidates, there is nothing wrong with using the fact that one might be more inspirational to your daughters as the deciding factor. But it is not the case that Clinton is our last hope for a woman in the White House.