RK77

Digg it!

Are women shunning Obama? Pollster says no

There's been much written and You-Tubed about supporters of Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton who are having trouble making the switch to presumptive nominee Barack Obama -- and say they may never. Or may never unless he puts Clinton on the ticket with him as vice president.

Are women a big problem for Obama? Maybe not. At least one poll shows rapid recent movement to Obama overall among Democrats, including women.

Pollster Scott Rasmussen says that as of today, based on 3,000 automated telephone surveys over the past three nights, Obama gets support from 52% of the women in his national tracking poll compared with 40% for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. He says that's better than Democrat John Kerry did with women against President Bush in 2004.

Scott attributes Obama's performance to unification within the Democratic Party over the past few days. "Before last Tuesday, Obama routinely earned around 70% of vote from Democrats," he tells us in an e-mail. "He's up to 81% today. Clearly the party has been coming together."

That said, the results this fall in individual states and in down-ballot races could turn on how enthusiastically Clinton's followers embrace Obama.

Ana Cruz, co-founder of Florida for Hillary, tells USA TODAY's Fredreka Schouten that female candidates could be hurt if Clinton's supporters stay home. She says three female Democratic candidates are seeking congressional seats in Florida alone.

Cruz, a Tampa public-relations executive and a former executive director of the state Democratic Party, says she and other Clinton backers are looking for more detail from Obama. "People are going to want to hear specific policy initiatives," she tells Fredreka. "It's talking to white, single mothers about affordable health care, the price of gas and the economy."

Obama embarked today on a two-week economic tour that will include a visit to Florida. Recent state polls show Obama trailing McCain.