Thursday, December 20, 2007

The Gender Gap - Clinton 4 Prez

"In general, men have the most problem electing women to executive jobs -- such as governor," says Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster and strategist working with Sen. Joe Biden in the presidential race. "They wonder, 'Can she be effective? Will other men -- in Congress, world leaders -- be willing to listen to her?' "

But Lake and others also note that Clinton does have unique negatives. "In Senator Clinton's case, men have stored a lot of doubts about her," Lake says.

Bruce Nielsen, who picks up recycling for the city of Buffalo, is one of those men.

"No way -- not even close," he says during a phone interview after participating in a Post poll. "Where do I start? I guess her views on the war, and the fact that I'm afraid if we pull out of Iraq too fast, she'll bring the war over here." Clinton now favors a phased troop redeployment starting immediately.

And then: "I just don't like her personality. She wears the pants in that family. She's pushy. The way Bill got caught [philandering] -- I think she should have left him. I pretty much lost respect for the woman.

"This has nothing to do with gender. I just don't like the woman."

So whom is he leaning toward?

He struggles with a name, and then turns from the phone to ask his wife: "What's the colored fella's name? Obama. Yeah, Obama, I like him.

"He's a good family man, strong family values. He respects people and he seems honest. Experience -- probably not as much as the others, but he's not afraid to get his hands dirty."