The Women Will Swing It

For Al Gore, it was the famous kiss at his Democratic Party convention. For George W. Bush, it was the kiss on Oprah. It was symbolic gestures by both candidates acknowledging a reality of this year's race for the White House, CBS News Correspondent Randall Pinkston reports.

"This election's going to be decided by women," says Linda Tarr Whalen of the Center For Policy Alternatives. "There is no way that either of these candidates can win without significant votes from women, and I think they know it as well."

With polls showing a virtual tie, both candidates are courting undecided voters — three-fourths of whom are women, according to a new national survey on women's attitudes.

More than ever, candidates are mindful of women's priorities, (vo#3) but the candidates have more work to do to win women voters, according to one author of the bipartisan survey.

"Neither one of them has really gotten right on the mark of the two top issues that are on women's agenda this year, and that is juggling family and work," says Tarr Whalen. "The other thing they really care about is equal pay and benefits, particularly retirement."

In upcoming presidential debates, women will be listening closely to what the candidates say about their issues. Linguist Deborah Tannen warns both Gore and Bush that symbolic gestures won't be enough.

"You know the old adage: 'Men fall in love through their eyes and women through their ears.' I think women are going to pay more attention to what they hear from the candidates than the general look," Tannen says.

Women have a long history of making up their minds close to the election. One analyst says it's not because they're fickle, it's because women are waiting to see which candidate addresses their issues.