Single women a key voting bloc

Collegestudent Past presidential hopefuls have spent large amounts of time and energy targeting demographics such as families and specific minorities. As Mary Sanchez of the Kansas City Star points out, however, candidates should take notice of single women, who account for more than a quarter of potential voters.

A study by Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research predicted that unmarried “women may play the same role for Democrats in 2008 that white evangelicals played for George Bush and the Republicans in 2004.”

The key to these women’s hearts would be promises to lighten their financial load in a real way. Single women often bear the same collection of bills and financial concerns as married couples, yet with just one income and fewer options.

Sanchez writes, “As anyone can attest who has ever watched a bargain-seeking woman plow through a sale rack, women will go to great lengths if they know the effort will bring value to their lives. Candidates who convince women their platforms are worth the effort just might earn a valuable token of an unmarried woman’s love: her vote.”

15 Comments

  1. Wiseman
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 3:26 am | Permalink

    “Single women often bear the same collection of bills and financial concerns as married couples, yet with just one income and fewer options.”

    You have got to be kidding me!How does it compare to single men having to pay alimony?Btw, Mike that is a good post.

  2. indy
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 5:16 am | Permalink

    Wiseman – you don’t live up to your nickname. A single man is paying alimony? Alimony implies that the single man was once married and if the man is dumb enough to get caught in the alimony game – then he deserves what he gets. Just like when a married man dumps his first wife and goes off with a younger woman. The wife usually ends up with the kids and the bills to pay while the man has his fun. Is that fair?

    Like it or not men, all men, this election will be decided by women and you had just better get used to the idea.

  3. writerdog
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 5:41 am | Permalink

    Mike after reading your comment I had to go back and re-read the topic and the entire article.I did not see anywhere that is said or implied that “girls will vote for girls”.Perhaps at the beginning of Hillary’s campaign there was a thought that as the first woman running for President women should vote for her. But that wore off some months ago, no it said that with women moving away from the concept that they needed a man to support them. They are more involved in their own financial futures. As a married man I like the idea that my wife if something would happen, would be able to take care of herself.

    It is good to see that women are not just paying lip serves to the claim they are as much human beings as men are. I see the discrepancy between married and single women quite a bit at work. It shows not in that one has a man in their lives and one does not. But as the article touched on, one having a second income and not having to solely depend on only they’re own income. And the other having to face the same type of bills but on their income only. Though certainly it is not exactly the same, but imagine if you worked be side someone who has won the big lottery and listening to them complain how hard it is to make it. Take the sexual aspects out of it you find the women and men both think and see the same world. In a world that is based more on two incomes, it is hard for me to imagine anyone being able to make it on the standard income. If everyone, male or female made a “living wage” where the world could be faced on a single income. There would be no such thing as this issue, once a balance is struck where the mindset is about people and not by gender. This world might just be a better place, as the real world effects everyone the same. Be they man, woman, single or married.

  4. MonkeyHawk
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 6:28 am | Permalink

    There was a piece in the LA Times a while back about the cost of being a woman in the United States compared to the cost of being male.

    Dry Cleaners charge more to clean a woman’s suit than for a man’s. A woman’s shirt was regularly a dollar more to launder and press than a man’s. Quick, guys: how much to you spend a year for tampons?

    A guy can show up for a business meeting without shaving and be considered “rugged.” A woman shows up at a meeting without make-up and is considered shabby.

    Single parents face increased expenses — in money, time, and and emotional committment — and it’s still considered a bit odd when when we encounter an unmarried male parent; women have the lion’s share of the burden.

  5. Kev
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 6:48 am | Permalink

    Maybe they ought to spend more time looking for a decent husband instead of a sale.

  6. writerdog
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 6:52 am | Permalink

    Sorry Kev I have already been found!

  7. Posted December 30, 2007 at 7:01 am | Permalink

    Really! Women who shop like there is no tomorrow, they are great voters! Didn’t those women vote for Morrisson?

  8. Posted December 30, 2007 at 8:13 am | Permalink

    “Single women often bear the same collection of bills and financial concerns as married couples, yet with just one income and fewer options.”

    That would be single people, not just single women.

    And let’s be candid about what the editorial is saying. Basically if you buy her something you should expect her vote in return. Kind of like if you take a woman to dinner you should expect sex afterward. I do not believe women are that stupid. Most of them know where the government would get the funds to court them. Right from their own wallets.

  9. writerdog
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 8:57 am | Permalink

    LOL Proudman check the Wal-Mart ads, I believe they have larger shovels to dig that hole with. But is that not how about everything works? Pork in the bills and wanting something in exchange for your interest?

  10. georgetroy
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 9:49 am | Permalink

    So if single women have if tougher, then it behooves them to vote for a person who will not promise them everything. I would not want my taxes raised by state, local and federal government.

  11. Posted December 30, 2007 at 9:59 am | Permalink

    Sanchez writes, “As anyone can attest who has ever watched a bargain-seeking woman plow through a sale rack, women will go to great lengths if they know the effort will bring value to their lives.

    Omg, that part was hilarious. Seeing some of the women at stores for after Christmas clearances is like a watching a nature documentury.

  12. former guv
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 10:25 am | Permalink

    “That would be single people, not just single women.”

    Of course women average only 57 cents for every dollar that a man makes.

    Closing the gender pay gap would go a long way to helping single women.

  13. Posted December 30, 2007 at 4:31 pm | Permalink

    There is no gender pay gap. That is yesterday’s recycled injustice.

    Today it is illegal to discriminate by gender in such a way.

  14. Angel
    Posted December 30, 2007 at 5:55 pm | Permalink

    Most of the single women I’ve seen have enough money to over eat, so I’d say they’re pretty well off.

  15. Posted January 17, 2008 at 8:52 pm | Permalink

    I think single women are doing alot better and are content being single and self sufficient. Here’s an article from DailyCents.com I found interesting:
    http://blogs.dailycents.com/?p=813