There's a couple of recent polls that show Palin is actually more popular among men than women. Talk about the Republican's pick of VP totally back-firing as far as attracting women voters. Here's a link on it including theories on why:

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I always get the sense that women (not all women, of course, but enough to make a difference) don't want pretty women to succeed in the workplace. The work-a-holic guy your age gets promoted -- perfectly acceptable. The homely looking woman 15 years your senior gets promoted --- perfectly acceptable. But the pretty woman your age getting promoted ahead of you --- secretly or not so secretly you're thinking who did she sleep with/flirt with to get ahead ? Hillary & Palin couldn't be more different on this. Hillary's worked her butt off her entire adult life, put up with a philandering husband and, although certainly not ugly, her looks never got her anything in life -- for all this a lot of people felt she deserved to be president.

dougcachet:

Hillary's ... put up with a philandering husband

Put up with a philandering husband??? Everyone knows he's been doing this their entire marriage, and that she looks past that to further her political aspirations.

Wow Doug, thanks for your insights on the female psyche. Isn't it amazing how things that on the surface seem ridiculously sexist and stereotypical can prove useful when trying to understand how different demographics may vote?

So all us ugly betty's just can't stand the prettier girl getting all the attention? May I offer a slightly (less/more) disgusting theory?

Women can see straight through her fake smile folksy crap to her complete incompetence and are repulsed by the obvious gender pandering while men have to put pillows over their laps while watching the debate with their wives?

You tell me which is more repugnant a "theory", because I just can't decide.

Definitely in agreement with Lub and Tired here. Doug, this is a crock of s**t. First of all, Palin's attractive, but not THAT pretty, and secondly, and most importantly, any conversation I hear from my female friends on Palin revolves around her politics and her candidacy.

Thanks, though, for insulting about half of the voting population. Let me put it to you this way, Doug. On the most banal, pop culture level, (assuming your crap-ola logic), if women didn't like attractive women, or found them to be adversarial, then shows like Sex and the City and Desperate Housewives would tank, little girls would hate Miley Cyrus, and American Idols like Carrie Underwood would not have won.

This is beyond ludicrous. Please go back to your cave.

PS: How's this for a theory - perhaps she's more popular with male voters because REPUBLICANS are more popular with male voters.

No, couldn't be, right? Must be ugly girl jealousy!!!

tired -

THANK YOU . . . you said exactly what should be noted . . Palin is an insult to progressive intelligent women everywhere . . the 'tickle yer boner" appeal goes to the heart of Republicanism . . . image over substance . . . show the tease and promise while delivering NOTHING.

Smart women can see through this act quite well, Republican Men go with the traditional sellout adding the wink-wink factor . . .

Did any of you read the link I mentioned ? It was written by a woman (I'm guessing a woman who doesn't live in a cave) by a magazine called Time (perhaps you've heard of it) stating pretty much what I said. Do a google search and you'd see I'm far from the only one with this theory. All I said is that there were enough women out there (enough being 5% in a close election) who can think like this to make a difference. Of course, if you're one of this 5% who thought like this, hell would freeze over before you'd admit it. And, if you're one of the 95% of woman who have several other different reasons not to vote for McCain/Palin, that's great; I'm voting for Obama myself. And, for the record, I certainly think men can vote or not vote for someone for the wrong reasons. How else do you explain George "someone you'd like to share a beer with" Bush winning against the obviously more intelligent Al Gore in 2000 ?.........My other main point --- Republicans were crazy to think a significant number of Hillary voters are now going to vote for McCain/Palin (because Palin & Hillary are just too different) --- I think most of you have agreed with this point.