FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
More bad news for Democrats. As if they don't have enough problems these days, The Daily Beast reports white women are now deserting the Democratic Party in droves.
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Exclusive polling data from Gallup shows enthusiasm among all women is down, but white women are the least enthusiastic of all the major demographic groups.
Only 27 percent of white female registered voters say they're excited about the midterms. That compares to 36 percent of black men and women and 40 percent of white men.
Another Gallup Poll from earlier this summer showed that Republican women are the most enthusiastic of registered female voters. It's Independent women and Democratic women who aren't too psyched about the upcoming elections.
The Daily Beast article suggests that the so-called PUMAs may finally be leaving the Democratic party for good. These are the white women voters whose motto was "Party Unity My Ass" during the primaries.
At the time, they were so unhappy with Hillary Clinton's loss to Barack Obama that they were supposedly going to vote for John McCain in 2008. Turns out they didn't, but only time will tell what these women will do next.
The Daily Beast article suggests Democrats still have a last-ditch chance to attract white female voters by focusing on issues that matter more to women - like health care for children.
And, pollsters point out that although Democrats may be losing white women, they aren't necessarily headed into the Republican column. They may just stay home on election day.
Here’s my question to you: Why would white women be deserting the Democratic Party?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Kathryn in St. Louis writes:
Well, I for one am so disenfranchised with the Democratic Congress and Senate. The minute the Democrats bent over for Republicans during the health care debate did it for me. Any woman who supported this health care bill, with the 'abortion' issue butchered out of it, I was disgusted. And once the public option was so easily dismissed, I excommunicated myself as a Democrat. I am a liberal, but not a Democrat.
Rebecca writes:
Because women are the core of their households; they figure out budgets, nutrition, health. I know what I can't spend because we don't have it. And the way they have been spending in Washington has broken our backs. The economy has to be one of the main and most important reasons for deserting the party.
Brian in Baton Rouge, Louisiana writes:
For the same reason that EVERYONE is leaving the Democratic Party. People are disappointed that Mr. Change has pandered to the Republicans, who won't even meet him part-way, and ignored his Democratic base. Even though he talks a good game, for the most part, his policies are just a continuation of Bush's.
Renee in Peoria, Illinois writes:
I'm a white woman who voted for Obama. My biggest beef with the president is he didn't fight hard enough for a BETTER health care bill (i.e. single payer, public option). But I know we won't get it from the Republicans so I'm not ready to desert him. I'd just like him to follow through on his campaign promises. Is that really too much to ask?
Diana writes:
It's the economy, stupid! We all have a husband, a son, daughter, brother, sister, father or mother who is unemployed or underemployed. Our health insurance premiums and co-payments are skyrocketing, not to mention increased taxes on the local, county and state levels. We're drowning, where is the hope and change we voted for?