Single, anxious female trumps soccer mom

Last Modified: 30 May 2007
By: Felicity Spector

Forget the soccer moms and their most recent incarnation - the 'momfluentials'. Now the demographic everyone's talking about is young, unmarried women.

They're more than a fifth of the voting age population. They're angry about the Iraq war, health care, unequal pay and education. They watch 4.22 hours of TV every day (who knew there was time?) and they're prepared to vote for change.

Naturally the only female Democrat running for the Presidency, Hillary Clinton, is right up there chasing their votes. She's held special events for single women - even those who aren't registered to vote, the toughest group to attract - in key states like New Hampshire and Nevada.

Her website trumpets her credentials in a special section, 'Mother and Advocate', and describes her as a 'champion for women'.

They're more than a fifth of the voting age population. They're angry about the Iraq war, health care, unequal pay and education.

And her super-savvy campaign team has already managed to build a formidable network of women activists and supporters across the country.

A viral e-mail from the campaign has started, asking 100 women to email 100 of their friends with personal recommendations to support the New York Senator's bid. 'Women for Hillary' groups have been set up in several states.

And the campaign is also creating 'affiliate councils' like 'Businesswomen for Hillary', led by former Discovery CEO Judith McHale. There's even a 'Council of Champions' with the likes of Billie Jean King.

And so far the strategy is working. Clinton is way ahead of her rivals among women voters - even that elusive unregistered group. And the influential Emily's List has given her its endorsement.

But the other candidates are snapping at her heels: no-one's vote can be taken for granted.

A number of prominent women have gravitated to Barack Obama's campaign, and his wife Michelle is getting ever more influential on the campaign trail, holding women's house parties across the country a few days ago. Last month she launched her own grassroots-based 'Women for Obama', telling supporters: "My husband is a man who understands the struggles of women and families.

While he has seen and heard about these struggles from me, he was also raised in a household of strong women who struggled and sacrificed to help him achieve his dreams.

John Edwards has been endorsed by leading abortion rights campaigner Kate Michelman - and abortion is one of the key 'hot button' issues for single, liberal women. A little late in the game, perhaps, his team has also set up a special 'Women for Edwards' initiative, endorsed by, natch, his wife Elizabeth.

But the crucial thing is this: women voters are in the majority. In 2004, 54 per cent of voters were women - and they're expected to make up almost 60 per cent of voters in the Democratic primaries. That's power.

So young, single women of America - don't be anxious. You've never been in a better position to influence your country's future. And don't the politicians know it.

This article originally appeared on the Newsroom blog