Subtle shifts in voting preference of GOP women a boon for Hillary

Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilley, and Ann Coulter must thank God everyday for Hillary Clinton. The junior senator from New York has provided them with more fodder, for more best-selling books than any other Democrat in history. Though popular conservative authors have no great love for Bill Clinton or Ted Kennedy, the special hatred reserved for Senator Clinton defies all logic. There is a theory that many in the GOP loath Hillary because she has risen so high with little help from others. The Kennedys had a famous name and wealth that has lasted more than three generations. Bill Clinton, though he grew up destitute, had the uncoachable talent of connecting with regular people across the country. Barack Obama is the premier orator of his day. But what blessings have allowed Hillary to achieve so much since her childhood in Cook County, Illinois?

It is difficult to imagine Republicans feeling sorry for Hillary. They were not sorry to witness her public humiliation during the Lewinski scandal. In fact, they basked in it-dragging out unnecessary impeachment proceedings, a full-fledged Senate trial and countless hours of meandering blather on talk radio. There are clues; however, that at least one segment of the Republican electorate could sympathize with Hillary Clinton. In the final debate before the New Hampshire primary, Barack Obama slyly told his opponent and everyone else in the audience "You're likable enough, Hillary." This is the equivalent of a popular guy in high school telling a large crowd that a girl is just 'alright.' From one whose opinion matters so dearly, such a remark is not only a let-down, it borders on insult. The complications of Obama's race and masculinity coupled with Hillary's gender and history stirred the pot even further. Of course, Hillary won New Hampshire and more than a few pundits credited her comeback with women feeling sorry for her. Whether or not this is true, the plausibility of the argument raises interesting possibilities for her chances come November.

Many older women believe there is no woman but Hillary that has a chance to win the presidency. They understand the positions of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) and a dozen or so other high-ranking women; but none of these have the force of personality that Senator Clinton carries. The president is neither male nor female. The president

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