Show Them The Security

Iraq A Big Issue As GOP, Dems Court The Votes Of Suburban Moms

(CBS)  Summer fun for Julee Floyd and her daughters in and around San Marino, Calif., the town they call home, has always meant plenty of playtime.
But since September 11, 2001, there has been a serious side to almost every decision that Floyd makes.

"There are all sorts of issues that you start thinking about," said Floyd, sharing her post 9-11 concerns with CBS News correspondent Sandra Hughes. "'What if I was on that plane? What if I was in that building? What if my child ended up being in that building?'"

Floyd knows she fits like a glove into a category of swing voters both political parties love to woo: a "soccer mom" turned "security mom."

After 9-11, she stuck tight to the Republican Party, which she believed would keep her family safe.

But now her focus has shifted from what's going on at home to the war in Iraq, because, she explains, "we have all sorts of other issues happening all over the world and I think that when we went into Iraq, I think we all thought that we would be in and out."

Floyd isn't alone. In 2004, moms who cited terrorism as their top priority voted overwhelmingly to re-elect President Bush. A CBS News-New York Times poll released Tuesday says the war in Iraq now shares top billing with terror and the economy as their top priorities.

"They are not willing to sustain sacrifices," says David Winston, a pollster and CBS News consultant, "without understanding how we are going to achieve success."

You can expect more than a playground brawl over the backing of this coveted electoral group. This week a Republican official, quick to refute claims the GOP is losing security moms to Democrats, at the same time conceded support has been lost among moms who are upset about Iraq.

Democrats are desperate to get the moms on their side, but to some, they seem perplexed at how to win them over.

"Just because the opening is there doesn't mean we get to walk through it," says Democratic pollster Andre Pineda, "unless we show that we have viable policies for the country as a whole or viable policies for Iraq."

Floyd wants to hear a plan for withdrawal from Iraq - from someone - during the campaign for this November's mid-term elections.

"We've got to do it right," says Floyd, talking about withdrawal from Iraq. "But what 'right' is, I don't know."

She says so far, no one has mentioned a plan that sounds right. But she's still listening – and waiting.

And right now, either party could win her vote.

[Marc Bennett]

Interesting.

[getagrip54]

"Security" and "Terrorist" are just buzz-words Polititians use to get elected. 9/11 was carried out by a small group angry at US policy in the Middle East. Attacking Afganistan and the Taliban was an appropriate response staying in Afganistan and invading Iraq is the reason we are still seeing any attacks on the West. Bush's War on Terror has created an anti-terrorism industry that now has to point out boogeymen behind every tree to justify its existence and the press play along. Its a joke that a woman from Springfeild Ohio, or Baton Rouge Louisiana is more concerned about being attacked by terrorists than she is about American troops dying in Iraq or the lack of support for American hurricane victims.

[mjv2944]

Whether they are Dems or Republicans, if they are incumbents they DO NOT deserve to be re-elected. We need a complete overhauling of congress, they are totally out of touch with America. How can you do your job working 80 days a year? They are under complete control of lobbyists. Big business is in control and it really is starting to show. We have sold out middle class American for the sake of Wall Street and big profits. Also the war in Iraq needs a Gen. Patton to lead and get the job done no matter how you get it done, it will not set well with some people, but its get it done or get out.

[jms_cheung]

It's true that to be a good American patriot doesn't necessarily need to `die a hero's death in Iraq'. Such is the concern of all Americans, mom or dad, for no one wants to sacrifice his or her son for Iraq. The obvious fact is, if any politican who can guarantee the `unecssary deaths' of their beloved sons, that person may get the votes! The recent proposal to recall thousands of Marines for active duty in Iraq & Afghanistan is not a solution...but what is needed is SPECIALISED COMBAT/INTELLIGENCE UNITS like the SWATS or Rambo types of soldiers who are good in HUNTING DOWN the hideouts/strongholds of the terrorists...and then send in troops to wipe them out! Send the Marines home...and bring in more of such `special forces'...and theire will be almost zero US casualty in Iraq & Afghanistan!