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Two years after giving him victory, women abandon Obama
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats hoped women voters would help them weather a tough election year, but weariness with President Barack Obama and disgust with relentless partisan warfare in Washington prompted many to abandon the party they had backed two years earlier.
In a bitter election marked by record spending, Obama's Democrats battled a powerful headwind of frustration among women voters who said they had grown tired of the relentless attack ads on TV and unceasing warfare between Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
Female voters expressed disgust with both parties, but on Election Day it was the Democrats who suffered most. They needed to win the women's vote by a wide margin in order to offset Republicans' huge advantage among white men.
In the end, Democrats won women by 5 percentage points over Republicans, according to exit polls - far short of the double-digit margins they have racked up in more successful years.
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"I can't vote for people who allow such negativity, because it doesn't say much for their characters. They're being politicians - they're not being the kind of leader I want," said Maxine Schein, 69, a lifelong Democrat who this year voted for a third-party candidate.
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"I just don't feel that he's taking leadership of the country," said Carol Roodvoets, 46, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Udall's focus on women's issues was not enough to sway voters like Tracy Marshall, 57, an abortion-rights supporter who backed Obama in the last two presidential elections.
The Colorado Springs homemaker said she had grown tired of the anemic economy and relentless partisan infighting. She said she voted for third-party candidates this time.
"I blame both parties because I don't think anyone has been magnanimous or willing to cooperate. It's embarrassing, it's very sad, and I just feel like we've wasted so much time and so much money," Marshall said.
---
"They're taking our jobs, they really are. And it's going to destroy the middle class," Atherton-Bentley, 57, said of immigrants.
In a bitter election marked by record spending, Obama's Democrats battled a powerful headwind of frustration among women voters who said they had grown tired of the relentless attack ads on TV and unceasing warfare between Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
Female voters expressed disgust with both parties, but on Election Day it was the Democrats who suffered most. They needed to win the women's vote by a wide margin in order to offset Republicans' huge advantage among white men.
In the end, Democrats won women by 5 percentage points over Republicans, according to exit polls - far short of the double-digit margins they have racked up in more successful years.
--
"I can't vote for people who allow such negativity, because it doesn't say much for their characters. They're being politicians - they're not being the kind of leader I want," said Maxine Schein, 69, a lifelong Democrat who this year voted for a third-party candidate.
--
"I just don't feel that he's taking leadership of the country," said Carol Roodvoets, 46, of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
--
Udall's focus on women's issues was not enough to sway voters like Tracy Marshall, 57, an abortion-rights supporter who backed Obama in the last two presidential elections.
The Colorado Springs homemaker said she had grown tired of the anemic economy and relentless partisan infighting. She said she voted for third-party candidates this time.
"I blame both parties because I don't think anyone has been magnanimous or willing to cooperate. It's embarrassing, it's very sad, and I just feel like we've wasted so much time and so much money," Marshall said.
---
"They're taking our jobs, they really are. And it's going to destroy the middle class," Atherton-Bentley, 57, said of immigrants.
http://news.yahoo.com/wearied-partisan-warfare-many-women-desert-obamas-democrats-171856046.html
Well.....
Looks like Democrats have a lot of homework to do figuring out how to get these women back before 2016.
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