Does a Democratic woman exist who could win the 2008 Presidential

[pnwmom]

election? In federal or state government or even outside of the government?

Assuming that the election isn't simply stolen (I know, a big assumption) is there any Democratic woman anywhere who you believe could beat the Republican candidate in 2008?

[MemphisTiger]

1. I don't think so. There are still too many people

women included that don't think women are meant to be leaders. Stupid I know, but perception is reality. I think if we nominate a female candidate, we have given the election to the other side.

[eyesroll]

6. So, if there was a very qualified female candidate, would you vote for

a less qualified male to avoid "giv(ing) the election to the other side?"

This is an honest question, not snark.

[MemphisTiger]

24. I would if she was a good candidate, but I don't have any

hangups about women being in a position of authority. I was talking about most people I know, remember I do live in the south.

[Clark2008]

31. OT - My husband's former roomate played football for Memphis

We're in Knoxville, btw.

:hi: neighbor.

[MemphisTiger]

39. GO TIGERS!!

[blm]

8. Agreed - the rise of fundyism took this nation many steps backward.

I think it will take another decade of postBush progressive rule to get it back to the point a woman can win the presidency.

[radwriter0555]

2. Senator Barbara Boxer.

She's brilliant.

[juajen]

13. Yep, she is brilliant; so is Dennis Kucinich!!

N/T

[pnwmom]

17. I love her, but she's got that California strike against her, besides

being a liberal and female. I'd love to think she could win the 2008 election, but do you really think that's realistic?

[dysfunctional press]

3. it's way too early to tell about 2008.

at this point in 1990, how many people outside Arkansas had even heard of Bill Clinton...?

[pnwmom]

14. I'm sure Bill Clinton was already planning things at this point.

If there was a strong woman to promote, this would be the time to start.

[dysfunctional press]

35. no- the time to "start" is after November.

between now and then, our focus should be 100% on the mid-term elections.
worrying about a presidential ticket for 2008 now would be a waste of resources and effort.

[pnwmom]

43. I wasn't so much "worrying" as "wondering" . . .

:eyes:

[Skinner]

4. I know many people here don't want to hear it...

...but Hillary Clinton has a better chance than any other Democratic woman of winning in 2008.

Not saying she's will win, and I'm not saying she's the best candidate. But out of Democratic women, I think she's the one with the best chance.

Unfortunately, Jennifer Granholm (Governor of Michigan) can't run for president, because she was born in Canada. If she could, I think she'd be a formidable presidential candidate.

[pnwmom]

18. You may be right . . . so the question is, can she win?

[Skinner]

20. I think she could.

She has worked really hard to change the perception that she is a left-wing extremist, and it has worked in New York. She is surprisingly popular in upstate New York, where Democrats don't traditionally do very well.

Nationwide, however, she is still seen as the polarizing extremist caricature that she was back in the early 90s.

If Hillary can repeat her success from upstate New York, and convince the rest of the country that their existing opinion of her is not correct, then I think she has a chance of winning the presidency. This is why she isn't bending over backwards to impress the liberal blogosphere. She knows that if she wants to win the General Election, she can't afford to play up her liberal bonafides. Out in the real world, her problem is the perception that she is too liberal, not too moderate.

[AndyTiedye]

40. No.

[juajen]

22. I agree. Jennifer is great, but Hillary Clinton is our best chance!!

Hillary is probably the most popular woman in the world, outside of actresses, maybe. Her name is synonomous with intelligence, compassion and courage.

We are very lucky to have her. Remember during the Lewinsky scandel how other countries were crying "Let us have Bill". They would be just as thrilled to have Hillary. She is one popular woman, and not because of her beauty, though she is certainly a very attractive woman.

It is way too easy for dems to forget what inexperience and stupidity have wrought in this country. Hillary = Wellesley, Yale, Lawyer, Arkansas First Lady, America's First Lady, U. S. Senator, and not at all the least of these, an excellent mother and wife. How many of you have read her autobiography?

She is a freakin' dream come true. What is with you people?

[dysfunctional press]

36. she voted to support the IWR, and is part of the DLC.

therefore- i cannot support her, nor vote for her, and i simply won't, under any circumstance.

[coalition_unwilling]

33. Hillary has very high negatives, though. 42% say they definitely

will not vote for her, acc. to a survey I saw recently. Taking that survey at its word, that leaves very little wiggle room to assemble the electoral college and popular vote counts necessary to win.

[dysfunctional press]

37. count me as part of that 42%.

no way can i cast a vote for her.

[coalition_unwilling]

42. While I won't rule it out absolutely, I have one non-negotiable

condition for voting for her. She must, unequivocally and soon, apologize for her vote on the Iraq war and say "I made a mistake" (or words to that effect).

Otherwise, no dice.

[serryjw]

34. Oprah would be our best chance!

Democrats support repeal of the 22nd because of Jennifer Granholm . They also think she could go all the way. I would be more than satified with a female as VP.

Clark/Boxer 2008!
Feingold/Boxer 2008

I love Feingold but this would be a challenge with 2 divorces and a Jewish Liberal

[acmavm]

5. No.

[Taxloss]

7. Oprah Winfrey.

I'm serious. She would walk it.

[pnwmom]

10. You know, Taxloss, that's a thought.

I wonder if she'd ever consider it.

[Taxloss]

15. She's been approached before, I believe.

She's in my top five "best presidents the USA has never had".

[juajen]

9. Yeah., take a Hill-Pill

N/T

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, come to mind.

Running on a "Decency in Government", "Not politics as usual", platform.

I think most Americans are sick of "leaders" and bosses who inevitably play politics make things worse.

I think most a Americans would respond to someone who offered simple decency in running the government.

[juajen]

28. Yeah, someone like Jimmy Carter

He was honest and sincere, and they wiped the floor with him. Under Hillary's outward softness is a steel core, and flanking her is a wrought iron icon.

It's past time for us to get behind our very best chance.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

30. Under Hillary's outward softness is a pathetic political hack.

[ThomWV]

12. Well, Martha Stewart could probably beat Hillary

And I can think of anyone else (who would be eligible to run) other than Martha who would stand a chance.

[pnwmom]

19. I think Martha's conviction would work against her. And she's got her

enemies, like Hillary.

[SaveElmer]

16. Absolutely...and Hillary is her name...nt

[Finder]

21. I think Hillary has a good chance...

Jeanne Shaheen is well respected too. I am sure there are a few others I am overlooking. There are also some repub women who are closer to the Dem platform than the Repubs...Christine Todd Whitman comes to mind.

[newportdadde]

23. Country isn't ready.

We have many states passing anti-gay marriage ammendments still, we are a long ways to a female president.

I don't see any female names being thrown out that could break through that barrier.

Clinton probably has the best shot of any woman out there due to name recognition and ability to generate cash but she is so unbelievably polarizing. Her presence alone I believe would ensure a Republican victory, they would rally like never before to defeat the partner to the evil clenis.

[lumpy]

41. That is a realistic reply to the question, dadde

This is certainly not the time to think about a woman candidate for prez. Testosterone is still the determining force in this country.

[WI_DEM]

25. Maybe for VP

which would be a great step forward right there--and then it's just a step up from there. Many people talk of KS Gov. Kathleen Sibilius as a possible Dem VP choice in '08.

[Armstead]

26. I don't think gender would be the main obstcale

I can think of a number of female Democrats who could be credible candidates.

But much as it pains me, most would suffer not from sexism, but from other forms of prejudice o9n the "image versus substance" aspect of politics.

Sen. Boxer, for example, could win over a lot of voters. However she's a little too "urban liberal" for some of the morons in the heartland. Not sexism, except that this difference with the whitebread heartlanders (city-mouse, country mouse) would be dificult to overcome.

There are a number o women in the House, except House members don't seem to be taken seriously as presidential timber, regardless of gender.

Hillary, on the other hand, IMO, COULD win, if she actually ran as a liberal populist, insted of a tepid corporate centrist. But if she runs as "more of the same" she will fail to inspire enough liberal/progressive voters to overcome her baggage and conservative antagonism. But again, I don't think it's sexism. (The differene between her and Boxer is that Hillary is already perceived as a pre-eminent figure, for better or worse, and her aura is a WASP heartland type.)

As for governors, I don't know enough about Gov. Janet Napalitano, but she seems to be a type that could become a serious contender.

[CPMaz]

27. "Could win"?? Sure. The list starts with Hillary

goes on through Barbara Boxer, Gov. Janet Napolitano of AZ (after 8 years of Bush admin corruption and screw-ups, someone who offers simple professionalism and *competence* is going to be very electable).

There are others, but I think Hillary Clinton is the most electable.

Whoever the Dems nominate (m or f) is going to be utterly SAVAGED by the Republican smear machine. Hillary's been through that already, so she probably has the best idea on how to weather the sh!tstorm.

Plus she is going to get a lot of sympathy votes, for what they did to her during her husband's administration.

[coalition_unwilling]

29. Here's a real dark horse candidate: Marcy Winograd.

She's currently running against Jane Harman in the Calif. Dem Primary next Tuesday. I've seen her in person and up close and she is smart and warm and has a good instinct for the jugular (at least as regards Harman). Given that 2008 is only 2.5 years away, it may be too soon for her. But if she defeats Harman next Tuesday, watch out. (Right now, all the polling and surveys I've heard about have this primary race "too close to call.")

[Scoody Boo]

32. NO! There is not. n/t

[lumpy]

38. JFK was the first Catholic prez.

Why did it take so long to elect a Catholic? Prejudice, that's why. It will be a long time before a woman will be in the WH, if ever. We have to work hard to get respect as leaders.

[Ron Green]

44. How about Molly Ivins?

If people want to vote for a "plain-speaking" candidate, how 'bout one who tells the truth?

[pnwmom]

45. I love her

but she's got to take care of her health now, I understand

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

46. i always thought ann richards was our strongest female

i disagree with her a lot, but in terms of electability, i think she would have had national appeal. pity the dunces in texas ditched her for dumbya

[Matariki]

47. sadly, probably only running against a repub woman

kind of why i hope they run Rice.