Clinton VS. Giuliani: Who Will Win the Women's Vote in '08?

Conventional wisdom may remind Americans that every vote counts; however, today's politicians value women's ballots more than ever. Why? Candidates remember previous elections. In bi-partisan harmony, both Republicans and Democrats agree that women's votes will likely be the deciding factor in this electoral race as well.

On the campaign trail, political candidates race urgently against Father Time as the 2008 election swiftly approaches. Opportunities to gain women's support march to the steady, tick-tock rhythm of his virtual clock. Accordingly, candidates quickly maneuver their campaign strategies, attempting to convert female voters into loyal supporters. Nevertheless, the front-runner's choreographed efforts fall short of securing women's overwhelming support.

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton talks about health care and equal pay for women while Republican leader Rudy Giuliani continues to struggle with his stance on abortion. Focusing on traditional women's topics, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee discuss health care when campaigning to females. However, candidates have yet to establish a significant link with the majority of female voters.

Women are reluctant to commit their support because candidates are using hackneyed, out-dated filibusters, which do little more than broadcast a commonly-known dilemma and point the finger, blaming the other political party. All the while, each candidate claims to have the plan that will undeniably solve the issue.

The essential connection is missing, and the only way contenders can anticipate winning women's support is to openly discuss how the plan will be implemented into reality. Women want more information. By nature, women need to discuss issues and understand the actions required before committing to a candidate. Women communicate by deliberating options and pondering outcomes through open discussion. As a result, women collaborate and connect. Mother Nature designed women to paint every possible picture, leaving no stone unturned in a picturesque scene. In the political arena, candidates have to establish a bond with women in order to secure their votes.

For example, former New York City Mayor, Rudy Giuliani responded to criticism in a radio advertisement but he failed to connect with female voters because he did not paint a clear picture of his plan. He obscurely declared, "We laid out a very, very specific set of goals that we want to achieve, cause I want people to look at those and say-- if I agree with most of them, then this is the person who can bring them about..." Giuliani's vague rebuttal does little to inform voters about his specific objectives. Women want to know details about Giuliani's "specific set of goals" before committing to his entourage.

Although Hillary Clinton has been called "A Champion for Women," she insults women's intelligence by speaking ambiguously. Women are ready to support a female president, but Clinton is not giving enough information to the women who would like to support her. Clinton alleges her plan "builds on what works in America, but takes aim at what doesn't and comes up with some very common-sense ways of trying to fix our problems." The blanket statement leaves women across America wondering, "What kind of common-sense ways?" A part of Clinton's attempt to build her petition for election is based on her gender. She expects women to support her; yet, she fails to identify and fulfill the innate needs of American women.

As women contemplate which candidate deserves their support, both parties should take into account that ballots are used in two distinct ways: for and against. Many times, voters mark the ballot against one particular candidate, essentially voting for the lesser of two evils. Candidates who bond with American women will benefit from the "against" votes that always supplement Election Day decisions.

Clarity is the solution that candidates must use to be the victor among women voters. Presidential hopefuls will not convince American women to hand over their valued backing in this election without a clear, concise outline that specifically states how they will achieve their plans. Rather than hopelessly battling Father Time's inevitable clock, candidates will be better served to look for Mother Nature's guidance when campaigning to women.