Election Issues

1. For the Democratic Party several characteristics affected the 2008 nominations. One characteristic was the fact that a woman, Hilary Clinton, was running for president. This in itself was a major feat. The main characteristic in her downfall was the miscalculation of quick and early victories. After this was not accomplished, her campaign collapsed. Obama had several quality characteristics that helped him eventually take the Democratic primary. His organizational skills, along with his strong grassroots effort, and strong fundraising tactics, made him very successful. On the other side, Republican John McCain was hurt by one main topic. The fact that he was 72 years old, and his running mate, Sarah Palin, was clearly inept to run the nation.

2. Women played a very important role in the 2008 elections. For the first time, a woman, Hilary Clinton, was on the Democratic ticket. This was a major change for a America and a huge step in the Democratic values of our country. Although she was not victorious, many viewed Hilary's success as runner-up as a huge steppingstone and also hoped that she would be chosen one day as a running mate. Sarah Palin also had a major impact on the 2008 elections, unfortunately, it was a negative one and it cost John McCain a chance at Presidency.

3. Nowadays, parties have found it advantageous to promote women candidates, and once nominated, are as likely as males to have access to party resources. Women candidates, especially those who are pro-choice, have the advantage of access to women's PACs. Several factors have advanced women's prospects: the rise of PACs; the lessening of party discrimination; and the availability of support from congressional campaign committees in competitive situations.

4. Women's organizations are crucial in helping more women get elected. They recruit and train women candidates to make them more viable candidates. They work aggressively in primary elections and provide a substantial resource base, particularly for women candidates who are pro-choice.