Independent Women In Colorado Focus Groups Prefer Palin To Biden

In two different Colorado focus groups of married and unmarried women conducted directly after Thursday's vice presidential debate, respondents broadly agreed that Sarah Palin came off better than Joe Biden.

The married and unmarried focus groups of 10 women each were organized by the Womens Voices, Women Vote organization, and conducted by the firm of Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research.

But whether or not the women identified said they were independent, undecided or more likely to support one candidate or the other -- virtually all of them said they came away from the debate with a better impression of Palin than each respondent had going in. The same was true even for respondents who thought Biden won the debate on points.

If these 20 women were any indication of the electorate at large, the McCain camp played the expectations game perfectly. One woman reported "gritting her teeth" at first, expecting Palin to fail in a big way, though she soon became comforted by Palin's "down home" poise.

"Palin was more genuine. She's a mom," one said. "She's more herself, just the way she talks -- it's down to earth," said another. Most of the women also said her "say it ain't so Joe" line was "hysterical," and that the "extra credit" line about her brother's class was endearing as well.

Biden, by contrast, was tagged with being "more arrogant," "Mr. Slick" and too lawyerly in his diction -- someone who the women found it difficult to relate to, outside of his tearing up at the mention of losing his first wife. One woman suggested he "get a refund" for his hair plugs.

"He seemed like a good old boy," one remarked.

"He changed his stances when Obama asked him to be VP. There's gotta be some truth to that, she [Palin] wouldn't just make that up," said another.

On the war, Biden seemed to do well with the women in the focus groups. Many wondered what Palin meant by "victory" in Iraq. But as an issue, Iraq ranked behind the economy as a concern for those who were vocal in the focus groups.

Comments

[pumpkin]

As a Coloradan and a woman, I'm embarrassed for these voters.

This part, in particular, made me want to vomit:
Palin was more genuine. She's a mom," one said. "She's more herself, just the way she talks -- it's down to earth," said another.

[psipolitics]

This focus group may be legit, but the organization Womens Voices, Women Vote was involved in pro-Hillary, anti-Obama robocalls back in the primary season. They may be a group that has some bitterness towards Obama, but they surely are not a bipartisan group. Note similarity in name to the group Independent Women's Voices/Forum, which is a stealth Republican group that has supplied people to the McCain campaign. Names can be deceptive and so can agendas.

[ErnestineBass]

BINGO!

They tweaked the name slightly thinking no one would be able to put 2 and 2 together.

NOT fooled.

[FredCDobbs]

Geez......did they see the same debate that I saw? She seemed 100% coached and scripted and evasive to boot......furthermore, her attempts at humor typical Republican lame and definitely not "hysterical".

[lincheryl]

I feel like I am in some crazy experiment in which people are placing a bizarre person on a ticket and seeing how bad it can be and still have people buy it. It is scary how ignorant some people are.

I want a president that is smarter and more qualified than I am. The fact that the word elitist comes up for that kind of candidate and it is considered a bad thing is amazing.

Watch the movie "Idiocracy" and see if you think we are headed in that direction.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

The Photo shows a bunch of very sad sorry women..........................neither a vote for Obama, Biden, McCain or Palin in going to change these women....................try doubling up on your SSRI`s

[thegreatgiginthesky]

The American election is all about looks. Place a playboy model on the ticket and watch it win.

[Tobiasism]

Couldn't actually be listening to what is being said.

It is pure acting form Palin.

[KeithMayass]

is it for real ?

the new generation of women really do not want to have the choice ?

soon we will hear that they want to wear a veil and leave in harems.

[Hirnlego]

Bush 2000 = Palin 2008.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/03/bush-palin-08/

As for "more genuine"

VIDEO: Watch Sarah Palin Read Her Answers In Last Night’s Debate
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/03/palin-can-read/

More genuine answers would've been "I don't know".

[JJeff88]

Careful about focus groups. Typically their sample sizes are way too small to be valid - i.e. to accurately project to an entire population.

They're generally used in the hope of gaining new ideas or insights (tantamount to hoping an "accident will happen").

It makes sense, therefore, to listen carefully to what each these women are saying (in order to learn something new) but not presume their numbers accurately represent the views of all Colorado women voters.

[123dee]

John McCain country first? Palin as VP? Both of you are not qualified.

[javaman]

never under estimate the ability of americans to vote against their own best interests.

[123dee]

As a women I feel, she is an insult to all women, her performance did not focus on
intellect, in depth knowledge, strength of character, skills of diplomacy and respect
for the 2nd highest leader position in the land.

She chose to, be cutesy, folksy and score points with one liners. I was especially
disheartened by her winking and throwing a kiss to the audience. Did she interject
sex into that debate, yes, I will not tolerate nor forgive her behavior.

[KeithMayass]

is it the new strategy of the G.O.P now to get to the white house?

s.p.r.e.a.d them for mccannot ?

[SENCvoter]

Folks, just remember the last time we voted for someone who was genuine, likable, like us, would like to have beer with, over someone who was knowledgeable, full of facts, but maybe not like one of us, the result was disastrous. George Bush took the White House over Al Gore becasue George Bush was likeable on debates, even a little goofy, and Al Gore looked too bookish. The American presidency is not a popularity contest. It is the highest office in the nation, one that requires knowledge, flexibility, and a lot of deliberation.

[Independent voter]

Sarah Sockpuppet did nothing but vomit Republican hate filled lies and wink - and these frakin bimbos were impressed?

I have got to skip future trips to the parts of Colorado where the terminally ignorant are found in such abundance.

[HamletsMill]

Well said. These young women are terminally ignorant. Let them be drafted as women and sent to Iraq or Afghanistan to perish in war. Then they will know about the world outside of their petty little vapid lives in Colorado.Facing death concentrates the mind wonderfully.

[GatoPreto]

LOL! Well said. I'll go spend my tourist dollars in Michigan.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

Come Visit and Ski in Oregon........................a Real Progressive Green State.................... we have 400 miles of Beaches and Ocean!