Primary pulls women 2 ways

N.C. Democrats are drawn to Obama's optimism while feeling respect for Clinton

For some women voters, it may come down to eenie-meenie-miney-mo.

As North Carolina races toward its unexpected lively May 6 primary, a significant number of women find themselves in an unusual category: undecided.

It's not that they are wishy-washy. Instead, many -- particularly women of a certain age -- find themselves pulled between two historic campaigns. They describe being drawn to the optimism and dynamism of Barack Obama while feeling deep respect for and a sense of obligation to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"I'm really torn," said Mary Colombo, 71, a retired accountant and treasurer of the Wake County Democratic Women. "There's so much I like about both Clinton and Obama -- I swing back and forth."

For Colombo, this election is not just a first because it might result in a black man or a woman as the Democratic nominee. It's a first because Colombo has never in her life been undecided in a presidential primary.

"In the past, I've known right from the start who I would vote for," she said. "And of course by the time it got to North Carolina, it was all decided anyway.

"This year I'm really struggling."

More than one in 10 Democratic women are in the same boat, a recent survey of North Carolina voters shows.

A poll conducted for The News & Observer and other media outlets released last week indicates that in North Carolina, nearly 13 percent of likely Democratic female voters are undecided. That makes them as conflicted as Democratic men; the same poll shows 12 percent of male voters undecided as well.

That's a real switch, said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. By late April, Democratic women are normally locked into their choices and looking to November. "Every season, we've been looking at the women's vote as a factor in the general election, not in the primary," Walsh said.

Strong, but then a fade

Early in the campaign, when Clinton appeared to be ahead, she had a sizable lead among women in most polls. In late January, that advantage began to shrink. The N&O's poll shows nearly 49 percent of likely female voters supporting Obama; 38 percent said they support Clinton.

Walsh noted that African-American women and wealthier, educated women are more likely to sway toward Obama, while working-class women are more likely to support Clinton.

She also noted that women have outvoted men in every Democratic primary this year.

"Their decisions matter," Walsh said. "Women will have a critical role in determining the nominee."

Amy Tiemann, a Chapel Hill author involved in the political group momsrising.org, sees a generational split at work.

There are exceptions to every generalization, to be sure. But Tiemann, 39, said she has noticed that women around her age and younger are more likely to be drawn to Obama's idealism and his calls for dramatic change. Older women might be more likely to remember the struggles of the women's rights movement and think that Clinton has earned her moment in the White House.

Tiemann had what she called an "aha moment" when she learned the Emily's List political action committee endorsed Clinton in January of 2007. Tiemann had written a check to the organization, which supports Democratic women who are pro-choice. To her, the unilateral decision reflected the group's old-line feminism.

Ellen Malcolm, president of Emily's List, said at the time: "I am one of the millions of women who have waited all their lives to see the first woman sworn in as president of the United States -- and now we have our best opportunity to see that dream fulfilled."

Tiemann says the president's gender won't matter if the country is run by another Washington insider.

"We can make room at the top for a woman, but what about the women at the base level?" Tiemann asked. "What about child care and health care for kids?"

Catherine Evangelista of Cary wonders about the same thorny issues. But she thinks Clinton is the one to address them.

"She's done so much more than be a Betty Crocker first lady," said Evangelista, 44. "She is just so solid, and so strong."

Sara Anderson, 68, who lives north of Winston-Salem, wishes she could be so sure. She still cannot decide. "I would be happy with either one," she said. "That's the hard part."

Ashley Simons-Rudolph, a 31-year-old N.C. State University professor, said she finds few substantive policy differences between the candidates and is sorting through the rhetoric. The choice may be agonizing, she said: "But it's a good problem to have."

She may not make up her mind until she hits the polling booth, two weeks from today.