Posted on 09/22/2008 1:03:59 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
New Jersey partisans are battling over the impact of Republican presidential candidate John McCain naming a woman as his running mate.
The arguments break down along the lines of issues versus the individual. Republicans tout Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a historic, uniquely qualified candidate, while Democrats focus on what a McCain-Palin victory might mean to issues affecting women's rights.
Women vote in larger percentages than men. How women react to the first woman on a Republican ticket could affect the election's outcome significantly. And it could upend expectations in Democrat-leaning New Jersey, where the presidential race has tightened since Palin joined McCain.
Which will motivate voters more: an appealing political persona or specific issues?
The fact that New Jersey politicians are even having the argument reflects the boldness of McCain's move in selecting Palin.
The different perspectives were on display last week in dueling news conferences held two days apart in the same meeting room in the state Capitol.
Three Republican Party officials, all women, bristled at criticisms about Palin's readiness to potentially become president. Branding the Democratic objections as sexist low blows, the Republicans predicted voters will flock to Palin because of her ethics, credentials, toughness and the historic nature of her candidacy.
Two days later, three Democrats, all women, said it was insulting to think women would vote for a candidate simply because she's a woman. They predicted the Republican ticket's positions on abortion, equal pay and health care will drive female voters toward Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
The Republicans cited issues as well. But Palin's positions often were invoked as reasons why she as an individual should be elected to the nation's second-highest office.
State Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Mercer, Monmouth, said Palin took on corrupt Alaska politicians in her own party and got ethics-reform legislation passed as governor. Beck said that accomplishment would play well in New Jersey, where more than 100 public officials have been charged with corruption in recent years.
State Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington, said Palin fought the oil companies and supports developing new energy sources. She has also cut spending as governor, Allen said.
Allen said McCain chose Palin because she is qualified, not because she is a woman. But the McCain supporters stressed the inspirational nature of Palin's accomplishments and her fight against the Old Boys' network.
"Regardless of party, all women should be celebrating the fact that we have a young, dynamic leader who happens to be a woman on our ticket," said Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, R-Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon.
The Democrats had a different take.
Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-Mercer, said Palin's conservative views are out of step with moderate New Jersey voters, especially Palin's staunch opposition to abortion, for any reason.
"That plays well to the conservative Republican base, but not to the women of New Jersey," Coleman said.
Laurel Brennan, secretary-treasurer of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, said women earn 77 cents for every $1 earned by men. She charged McCain opposed legislation that would have advanced equal pay for women.
Brennan said female union members have told her it feels like McCain is trying to manipulate female voters with Palin's selection, and they oppose what she stands for.
State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, charged the Republican ticket's health care proposal to shift people from employer-paid programs to individual accounts would result in millions of women and children losing coverage.
The arguments in New Jersey echo what is being said across the nation. Of course, a large-scale embrace of Palin by New Jersey voters would probably signal movement toward Republicans elsewhere, since the state has voted strongly Democratic in recent elections. Democrats predict the state will stay in their column.
But New Jersey voters have swung before for an appealing candidate whose views didn't always match their own, although that candidate was at the top of the ticket. Republican Ronald Reagan was more conservative than many of the state's voters, but New Jersey liked his leadership qualities, and Reagan won the state twice in the 1980s.
“and don’t forget the down ticket”
May they go down in droves with Barry.
I doubt Mc gets my county because of Atlantic City and Pleasantville, and Camden County will probably go for Barak too. Mc Just may get the rest of South Jersey.
Democrat-leaning New Jersey
Leaning Democratic ? How about saturated , brainwashed intimidated Democratic. This state sucks , the Dems have been totally in control for 80 years ,half the state works for the state and they practically put a gun to your head to support the totally corrupt NJ Dem party.
Let’s make one thing abundently clear: New Jersey is as blue as Massachusetts or Vermont. McCain should not waste a minute of his time or money because it’d be like throwing it down the drain. Pennsylvania on the other hand may be worth his resources.
Indeed. New Jersey, we are told, is a lock for the Democrats. Same with California. Michigan should be. Yet everywhere we see Democrats in a state of panic. Are their internal polls showing something Gallup isn't?
Obama that shadow marxist is so scary I hope that common sense prevails in NJ but having lived here I can say it’s shocking how many folks you would hope to change things really are in fact in lockstep with the system.
And one that is utterly corrupt at that.
My friend married a Jersey girl. She loved Shrillary. Now with Shrillary gone and boy is she dour about that, I asked him what she thought of Sarah. He said she “likes Biden.”
I was like ahem shocked. How does anyone in fact like Biden? What’s there to like? Name a handful of issues he’s been right on about foreign policy, his so called great strength.
What supporting Daniel Ortega?
Please.
If New Jersey swung to McCain it would be awesome and a huge indicator but I think we are perhaps a tad optimistic.
Nothing matters except voters real ballots and election day.
I wish that were true, but the phony ballots that the Dems keep getting added to our ballot boxes still count as much as our real votes do.
Here in South Jersey we’re getting bombarded with McCain ads anyway from the Philly market. Two for the price of one in this part of the state.
Of course, McCain’s not in the NYC/North Jersey market—that’s really a waste of time. :)
I was an invited guest to the Democratic Party's Election Kickoff Dinner at the Pines Manor in Edison, NJ last Tuesday. Everybody, from the Governor on down spoke. The name mentioned that received the least amount of an energetic response, was ZERO, himself.
I would say, if the Middlesex County's Democrats are this uninspired, so goes the State.
BTW, there is an intense energy at the McCain headquarters in Woodbridge, NJ !!
Which will motivate voters more: an appealing political persona or specific issues?The dead voters? Probably ACORN.
Turnout for McCain Palin will now be sufficient that NJ 5th district Rep. Scott Garrett (R) is a safe seat now.
That’s the only Federal race that was at all competitive,
95% of incumbents will be reelected nationwide, I think 100% of incumbents running for reelection will be reelected in NJ.
“Hope and Chnage” just doesn’t play well here. But having a D in front of your name will still have Obama win the state.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.