Iowa's record on female candidates puzzles observers - AP from DM Register

[Debi]

Iowa, a hotbed for politics, is hostile terrain for female candidates.

The state that holds the nation’s first presidential caucus stands as one of just two — Mississippi is the other — never to have elected a woman governor or sent a woman to Congress.

<snip>

Iowa’s record on female candidates has never been tested by presidential politics. Although they campaigned in the state, Colorado Rep. Pat Schroeder in 1988, Elizabeth Dole in 2000 and Carol Moseley Braun in 2004 quit before Iowans caucused in the first nominating contests of their campaigns.

<snip>

Some analysts point to the state’s farming history. Women and men have performed gender-specific tasks on the farm — men tilling the fields, women at the homestead tending to their poultry, gardens and canning.

<snip>

‘‘It may be the candidates,’’ Conlin said. ‘‘It may be the right woman has not come along.’’


http://www.dmregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050712/NEWS09/50712012/1001

[David Dunham]

1. In any case, Hillary is not the "right" choice for the Dems in 2008

She has NO chance of winning the general election.

[Debi]

3. I agree

But it's not because she's a woman. Sooooo many other reasons.

[proiowadem]

2. Just waiting for the right female to run

I'd rather vote for a woman who shares my ideals than a man who doesn't. But I'm still not sure about Hillary for President.

[Debi]

4. I wouldn't vote for a woman just because she's a woman

Just like I won't vote for someone just because they say they're a Democrat. Show me by activism, contributions and volunteerism.

[kansasblue]

5. crap analysts...

Nebraska...just next state to the west...had a female governor and in fact the Republican female candidate ran against and woman from the Democratic side.

At that time they pointed to the state's farming history of rugged women that helped settle the fontier as the reason women do well.

[Debi]

6. Maybe Iowans are just stubborn?

:shrug:

I don't think it's fair to say that the women who have run in Iowa lost because they are women.

It might have been that they lost because Iowan's didn't like their profile as a candidate.

To say they lost because of thier is rather short sighted on thier part.

[HuskiesHowls]

7. I voted for Roxanne Conlin when she ran....

She would have been a better governor than Terry ever hoped to be. At least I don't think she would have given WOI-TV away for free!!!

I'll vote for any woman who is qualified, and whose thinking I agree with.

[ISUGRADIA]

8. A fair amount has been candidate issues and national trends

Lynn Cutler Congress 1980 49% would have won if there had not been the Reagan landslide

Conlin 1982, campaign cut down by tax problems and never recovered

Elaine Baxter Congress 1992 48% Lightfoot in big trouble that year but Baxter never really established herself before going negative against him

Campbell 1994, Republican nationwide landslide

Jean Lloyd Jones 1992, no one would have beat Grassley

Incumbency is a big part too. As the article said, last gov defeated for reelection 1992, Last Senator 1980, Congressmen Smith in 94 and Blouin in 78 before that. (Congressman Nagle was defeated in an incumbent v incumbent race).

[Debi]

9. Thanks for the info!

:hi:

Sure you don't want to come back and help w/some elections this cycle?

Debi

[ISUGRADIA]

10. Sounds like fun, but I'll have my hands full in MN

An open Senate and US House seat, the Time person of the year, Kathleen Rowley, running against a real nasty Congressman, the jerk governor, Pawlenty, beng faced with a good race. Lots of excitement in MN.

It will be cool to see how the Nussle open seat race and the race for Gov go. Looks like an outside chance of the state convention deciding the Dem gov candidate with so many in the race there.

[Debi]

11. Are you in Rowley's district?

That would be a great race to work on (so much to talk about with Rove's problems right now).

Sadly I was not a delegate to the State Convention so I won't get to be part of that process (but the same could be happening in the 1st District and I am still a member of the 1st District Central Committee)

[ISUGRADIA]

12. Actually I am in Sabo's district. But it will be easy to help in

Rowley's race as her district covers some of the suburbs. The DFL has high hopes for 06 at all levels here.

Correct me if I am wrong, but won't it be delegates who will be elected in the 2006 caucuses who will vote at the state convo if the Dem Gov nomination goes to convention? I was thinking that is how it works or at least what I remember from 1990, the last time that was a possibility.

[Debi]

13. You may be right.

But I still think it's the 2004 delegates that will make the decision as the 2006 delegates won't be seated until after the primary. I've never understood the whole process - I've just gone to whatever corner of the room I've been pointed toward ;)

[Debi]

14. Update - I am much chagrined.

My husband says that you are correct, it will be the 2006 State Convention Delegates that will vote if necessary. Guess I better work on being a delegate this year!

[DaMan]

15. It seems to me that the process starts in January

of the even number years at the precinct caucuses. It's there that delegates are selected to the county caucus where delegates to the state caucus are selected.

Typically caucuses held before the primaries and the primaries before the state convention. Off hand I can't remember when the district conventions are held but I think it's before the primaries.

By the time the state conventions are held, all the district candidates to federal offices have been elected unless none of the candidates have a majority. (Check with the constitution on that) There is no run offs in Iowa so if a district candidate fails to get the required votes, district delegates will elect one from the highest two (or three) vote getters in the primary.

http://www.iowademocrats.org/ has PDF files of the party's by-laws and constitution. You can find some details there.

If you want to get involved, you have to start early by getting to know your neighbors and members of your county central committee. Sort of vote early and often.

[Debi]

16. I've attended every caucus since 1996 (both Presidential and off-year)

and am usually a delegate to the County/District/State Conventions. 2004 was weird b/c of the make-up of our caucus (We were Dean and he only got one delegate - we gave it to a new person who had never been to conventions before - If I'd stayed vigilant I could have become a delegate at District Convention just by showing up but I blew it off and obviously blew off the State Convention as well). We are from a small township and the off-year caucuses usually consist of me and my husband (pretty easy to go on to convention that way). This year might be different as we not only have the Governor's race, but a four-way race for Congress in our District.

Oh, and I've been through a special convention for a house seat here in Waterloo (I wasn't a delegate b/c it was not my district, by my husband was called in to moderate - it was a very heated ordeal)those are made up of central committee members w/in the district. Not fun!

Debi

Does MN do it differently?