Seeking Women's Votes, Clark Changes His Style

[kskiska]

Oh, here it comes. The earth-tones treatment. He's "re-inventing himself."

CONCORD, N.H., Jan. 8 — Gen. Wesley K. Clark has begun to show a softer side.

Gone are his navy blue suit, red tie and loafers, replaced by argyle sweaters, corduroys and duck boots.

At many campaign events recently, a woman has accompanied the general, who is retired, to introduce him. Earlier this week it was the lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. On Thursday General Clark was accompanied by Sherron Watkins, the Enron whistle-blower, who endorsed him here at a center for the elderly.

(snip)

"There is a gender gap," said Geoffrey Garin, who heads the Clark campaign's polling operation, though Mr. Garin did not give out numbers.

Some Democrats say the problem is that women are put off by the military persona.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2004/01/09/politics/campaigns/09CLAR.html?hp

[Ilsa]

1. There was never a gender gap for me.

I didn't mind the navy blue suits or starched white shirts. But the changes are welcome if it helps more women identify with him.

[Piperay]

18. Not with me either

I was really surprised to hear there's a "gender gap". :shrug:

[Melinda]

2. Pandering?

Oh my.

[lcordero]

3. What hetero male doesn't?

:evilgrin:

[Melinda]

5. lmao, how true.

Besides, I was kidding. Candidates do what they need do to appeal to voters, and that's a fact. And I'm certain they could all do with soem fashion sense. :evilgrin:

[Lefta Dissenter]

11. Hey, I love your graphic!

My son works for Russ! :)

[JNelson6563]

20. heh heh

Most excellent point. :toast:

Julie

[dawn]

4. As a woman, I like the general.

Yes, I know I shouldn't, because of my avatar. Anyway, I don't see how argyle sweaters and duck boots will endear him to female voters.

Silly question: what exactly are duck boots?

[kskiska]

6. Duck Boots

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?&storeId=1&catalogId=1&langId=-1&categoryId=19067&sc1=Search&feat=sr

[meti57b]

8. according to that source, duck boots are:

Waterproof protection of rubber combined with the comfort of leather Unique foot form offers stability and comfort Full-grain leather sheds rain and snow Low-cut, slip-on style great for wet, muddy chores or running errands.

Yes, that would make a guy more appealing :evilgrin:

[Warpy]

9. Appealing to women?

Bollocks. That getup is a vain attempt to appeal to working class white males, you know, the kind who regularly spend their weekend in hunting season dressed by LL Bean as they look for something to shoot for dinner.

The only sillier thing he could do would be to dress in ruffles and quote Edgar Guest.

[Rowdyboy]

7. I would hope he would wear different clothes from time to time

Navy blue suits are not mandatory, and he look good in sweaters. He has been accompanied in campaigning by women before-he probably will be again. This is pandering?

I think most women are above this sort of trash, the possible exception being journalists who write about it.

[Ivote]

12. THE GENERAL

is doing just fine. Maybe whoever wrote that article should go to some of his meetups and get a look at who is supporting the General.
also check out www.womenforclark.com

[Lefta Dissenter]

10. Lt. Gov Barbara Lawton

described Clark as having "political courage the likes we've only dreamed of."

I plan on posting a bit more tomorrow about what Barbara Lawton has said about Clark. She did a conference call to our monday night meet-up, and was on a local radio station this morning, talking about her time in NH.

If any other Wisconsinites heard the interview or the phone call, feel free to start a thread! I've been up since 4:30, so I have to go to bed!

[hippiechick]

25. Is she endorsing Clark ?

I worked on her very first campaign for WI senate in 95/96 ... wonderful lady.

:hippie:

[Fleshdancer]

13. Argyle sweaters and duck boots?????

Do women vote on a candidate based on what they wear??? I don't, am I different in this respect?

Ridiculous. :eyes:

[Rowdyboy]

14. I hardly think so

But we should blame the "journalist" for submitting such chavinistic trash and the editor for approving it.

[Fleshdancer]

15. I agree

this kind of reporting is insulting and ridiculous.

[Kat45]

16. Sounds to me like practical wear for slogging around NH in the winter

WTF is this journalist talking about? I never even notice what a candidate is wearing. I'm insulted; next thing you know, they'll be saying that women are coming over to Clark because he's handsome. I'm a woman who's supported Clark for a long time because I think he's the right person for the job, and there are plenty of women at his meetups.

[GalleryGod]

22. I Recall Poppy Bush & Dutch Reagan in Parkas and Flannel Shirts!

Maybe Coulter was right after all,Eh,Troops?:wtf:

An "Air strike" on the NYT's wouldn't be THAT bad:argh:

Your Man in the Faculty Lounge:hangover: ,
G.G.

[revcarol]

17. What passes for journalism these days.

He's at the bottom of my list, and I'm a woman. For his POLICIES AND RECORD AS A LOBBYIST, not for his appearance.

Pssst...someone better check out that sweater's label.Is it American-made? Maybe he supports more than software developers going to India.

[GalleryGod]

23. HOWEVER.He CAN kick Bush's ASS!

:silly: No denyin' it...
:think: One can't get around it...

His candidacy absolutely,positively,skewers W's Voters tendancies in the SOUTH...takes Karl & Karen's "pat hand" and blows it on the floor.

[abelenkpe]

27. I wrote to Clark's campaign

asking for him to reconsider his position on letting jobs go to India, since it may potentially effect me. Sadly, I got no response. I gotta say, that is a big issue and the one that stops me from supporting Clark at this point. As a woman I don't care what he wears, I just want him to protect my job. But if he ends up as the nominee I will vote for him, because four more years of Bush would be a nightmare. It's not like Bush has ever done anything positive for women.

[WindRavenX]

19. Umm.. this woman thought Clark was fine

I care about his message, not what he wears.
Yeesh.

[leftchick]

21. He is fine with me....

in anything he wears..... :)

[Warren Stuart]

24. What's next ? Earth Tones?

The General's reinventing himself, the next thing you know he will have Naomi Wolf, advising him on how to get in touch with his inner Beta Male. <major sarcasm here>

[Ramsey]

26. What a ridiculous puff piece

This type of reporting seems specifically designed to make a powerful man seem diminished, talking about his wardrobe and his pandering to women.

This is what we have to deal with folks, blatant deliberate puffery with a sinister purpose!

[Mari333]

28. Are you kidding?

one of the "sway voters" group of women, are too ensure their kids are protected...having Bush in office hasnt protected shit..
ergo, Clarks proposals to ensure health care, and ensure intelligent foreign policy based on diplomacy are a sure bet for women.
He doesnt need to change a thing, altho not always wearing the uniform is okay by me. My mother likes Clark, and she always voted for Bush...so that says a lot.
Im ABB anyway.

[bushisanidiot]

29. Dean Supporter Here: I Don't See This As Pandering At All

who the hell cares what he wears? now, it would look pretty damned silly if a candidate tried to dress in "hip-hop" fashion while campaigning in the "hood", but he's not doing anything anywhere near that. if he wants to dress "hipper" then maybe he's just looking to appeal to "hipper" people (?) which could be men OR women.

having women introduce him at campaign stops may be a good idea in trying to capture the "women's vote", but it certainly isn't "pandering" IMHO.