Who's Swaying Female Undecided Voters?

CBS Evening News: The Emergence Of Sarah Palin Is Changing Assumptions

(CBS)  There's no better example of the see-saw of the undecided voter than 58-year-old Linda Brode. She's a registered republican in Tamaqua, Penn., a small, working-class town in a battleground state.

"I have no clue who do vote for, and I've usually made up my mind by now," she told CBS News correspondent Kelly Wallace.

A divorced mother of one, she voted for Bill Clinton and George Bush.

Two weeks ago, she was blown away watching Barack Obama's acceptance speech.

But then she heard Sarah Palin. And now won't make up her mind until all the candidates face-off.

"These debates are very important to people, and I know I'm not alone in thinking this way," she said.

According to the latest CBS News poll, 55 percent of undecided voters are women like Linda. But of those who have made up their minds since the conventions, 28 percent volunteered Sarah Palin as the reason for their decision - more than any other factor. Terri Klingaman is a registered republican who was undecided.

"She sealed the deal with her speech; she really did," Klingaman said.

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Read more from Kelly Wallace's reporting at Couric & Co. blog.

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Even Philip Koles, a registered democrat who's undecided, says he relates more to Governor Palin than Sens. Obama and Biden.

"I guess because of her - the way she was brought up and her family values as well," Koles said.

Traditionally, it's the top of the ticket that sways undecided voters. The emergence of Palin is challenging that assumption - for now.

[roc2341]

As a registered Democrat I''m so fed up with the "Women Who Support Hillary" who go out of their way to say they will now support McCain due to Obama''s lack of reaching out to them. B.S. And to show MY dissatisfaction with this particular group. I hereby pledge that for the rest of my voting life I will not support ANY Democratic female for any local, state, or national office EVER! This election was/is too important to our children/grandchildren future to act like a child who didn''t get what they wanted to then show "pettiness" by helping McCain win the White House as a form of "revenge".

[forever1973]

Sarah P. is NO Hillary C.!

[stevekelson-2009]

Hillary Clinton, by her current absence, is causing serious harm to this country. I could go on an on, spending time in speculation as to where she is and what she may be up to. The fact is, both Clintons could be countering this charade with some statesmen like responses.

People listen to them; I assume even this 20% of obviously %u2018uneducated on the issues%u2019 crowd who have jumped ship, right into the oil spill that is the McCain campaign. McCain/Palin stray from the truth on a daily basis on the campaign trail.

Let%u2019s be candid about their behavior: They are lying straight into the faces of their new adoring fans. I%u2019m going to bet the ones lapping up these fablications, don%u2019t know the difference between a Filibuster and a HungerBuster.

Oil spills do catch fire. They also produce the most searing, palinful and deeply scarring injuries immaginable. Today, Dana Perino was hard at work ''showing loyalty to the party'' while issuing another alert consisting of "terroists plotting and planning%u201D to attack us. Why can%u2019t the average American see through these tactics? This is not the GOP''s first dirty rodeo.

Hillary Clinton needs to immediately grab a hose and Bill Clinton needs to man the eqivalent of an abandoned 30 caliber and blast away some sense at those plotting what may become the next USS Arizona disaster.

[heartwords]

I saw a little blue bird sitting in a great oak tree singing a song of freedom. Then came a hunter with his sling shot loaded and ready to fire.

Will he choose to take the life of this sweet bird. Or let the bird live to continue singing the song of freedom.

FREEDOM.. UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL.. NATIONS ARE WATCHING!!!

CHOOSE WISELY..

WE THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA..
BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE..
LIFE.. LIBERY.. AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS...

Sarah are you & senator McCain really going to shake up Washington??

Will you do something about the due nothing Washington crowd??

Will you clean up the messes and stand for what is right??

If you really can. We the people of this Great Country will STAND with you.

We''re ready for a real CHANGE.

Are you ready to make the changes???

SARAH.. be our voice.. be strong & courageous.

[constantly4u]

People are still stuck on stupid. We are so behind in the times, still, that we are ready to critize and reject someone that doesn''t have the skin color of our own and not listen to anything that they have to say, even if he''s willing to benefit our families.

Why can''t we just come together and try to help one another and stop being selfish and unconcerned for others. Do you have a heart? We all need to stop and help someone else because whether you believe it or not someone have helped you. God Bless America!!!

Liberals can easily forgive their candidate Obama using any and all means to insult and slime his opponents - but the vast majority of Americans will not forgive him until he is sent home to Chicago, defeated and forgotten.

Posted by OneAmerican4 at 05:54 PM : Sep 10, 2008

Obama is not the slimer. McCain and Palin are clearly the ones who are deceiving people. The press must call them on it.

Liberals can easily forgive their candidate Obama using any and all means to insult and slime his opponents - but the vast majority of Americans will not forgive him until he is sent home to Chicago, defeated and forgotten.

Posted by OneAmerican4 at 05:54 PM : Sep 10, 2008

Obama is not the slimer. McCain and Palin are clearly the ones who are deceiving people. The press must call them on it.

[oneamerican4]

Liberals can easily forgive their candidate Obama using any and all means to insult and slime his opponents - but the vast majority of Americans will not forgive him until he is sent home to Chicago, defeated and forgotten.

Obama, your days as a politician on the national scene is severely shortened by your own foolish blunders and your elitist arrogance.

Gee ge556, I guess you MISSED the factcheck.org info countering the inuendo and lies being said about the good Governor of Alaska...

http://www.factcheck.org/el
ections-2008/sliming_palin.html

BTW, what''''s with big O hurling insults cause he''''s on the defense?

Posted by dougp1959 at 02:31 PM : Sep 10, 2008

No, I did read that. It doesn''t say that Obama made any of the false statements about Palin. Others did.

Among the candidates, McCain and Palin are the big liars in this campaign, not Obama.

Gee ge556, I guess you MISSED the factcheck.org info countering the inuendo and lies being said about the good Governor of Alaska...

http://www.factcheck.org/el
ections-2008/sliming_palin.html

BTW, what''''s with big O hurling insults cause he''''s on the defense?

Posted by dougp1959 at 02:31 PM : Sep 10, 2008

No, I did read that. It doesn''t say that Obama made any of the false statements about Palin. Others did.

Among the candidates, McCain and Palin are the big liars in this campaign, not Obama.

[frootloophhh]

It-s going to be moderate Republicans like this Linda Brode that helps Obama win the elected. Palin is causing a stir right now, but we people, especially women start seeing where Palin stands on women''s right they''ll move to the Obama/Biden camp.

[marrabella]

It''s all over for Obama but the chanting. His change mantra is falling apart under the scrutiny of Obama''s past political history. Obama ingratiated himself into the slimy Chicago political ring and profitted from it. Palin fought corrupt pols - Obama endorsed them! What a contrast. Obama''s ONLY chatitable contribution was a $22,500 check to Rev. Wright''s church. (compare to McCain''s worldwide help to needy people for DECADES). I am a lifelong Dem. who will be voting for McCain. I trust McCain to do what is right for America. I do not trust the "foreign interests" that back Obama and do NOT have our country''s best interest at heart. Obama is like my loud-mouthed uncle - talks about change all the time. Blow-hards both. Women will decide this election. Women know that Dean, Pelosi, and Reid can''t cram a totally unqualified candidate, hijack the primary election, spit on Hillary and all women, and scream "Roe vs Wade" Ain''t gonna work. Wait til November. The whole country will hear the roar of women. Payback''s a ***.

[frootloophhh]

This factcheck.org site is banned at my place of work. That usually means it-s not a trusted site. I-ll check what is out there and who runs it when I get home.

[frootloophhh]

I-ll take another ''slick willy'' in the wh anytime.
It''d be better than this stupid war mongering old coot.

[plplearecrzy]

If you want another "slick" Willy in the White House by all mean vote for Obama. He has no substance to his promises. I dare him to enlighten us on how he intends to pay for all his pie in the sky programs. I''m not stupid...it''s coming out of my pocket.

[blueskypie]

Get registed to vote by October 30th and vote Democrat. Be a part of the party who includes all races and religions, not the republican party who only includes one race and one religion. Stick to the issues, health care, economy, jobs, education, safety, not a personality beauty contest. We need real leadership, not more wars. GO REGISTER DEMOCRAT and let''s get America out of the gutter it sits in.

[mydiatribe]

NOTICE:
The National Organization For Women (NOW)
SHALL HENCEFORTH BE KNOWN AS:
the National Organization For Liberal Women Only!(NOLWO)

[ibzjem]

Oh the Lord has said he''s voting McCain has he?

[ibzjem]

I expect most politicians to be "party-line" toters. That''s how it works. It''s the party line that has to change. In a few years it will probably have to change back. Its the cycle. Though the duty cycle has been heavily Republican.

If the two parties would ever let a couple more parties into the mix, then you could find more middle-of-the-road candidates. Until this power hungry duel is over, this cycle will continue. I''m not holding my breath, but I''m ready for the next pattern.

[mabourn]

For those of you that question McCain''s commitment to change Washington because he supported bush 95% of the time, here are a few things you might want to consider:

If Bush is such an idiot, why did Obama vote with him 40% of the time and Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid vote with him 39% of the time. (FactCheck.org)

What evidence do we have that Obama would stand up to those in his own party and not be just another party line liberal? Based on his record so far, he has voted with Senate Democrats 97% of the time. (FactCheck.org / Congressional Quarterly )