Clinton's support among women is strong, poll shows

A poll released yesterday shows the depth of support enjoyed by Hillary Rodham Clinton among women likely to vote in the Democratic presidential primaries.

In the survey, taken in New Jersey, Arizona and Georgia, Clinton was backed by 54 percent of Democratic women, compared with 18 percent for Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and 12 percent for former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.

All of the polling interviews were done prior to Tuesday night's Philadelphia debate - in which Clinton was repeatedly attacked by her rivals and after which she was widely criticized as evasive.

Pollster Geoff Garin, who helped direct the survey, said that the New York senator's support among women gave her an advantage "unprecedented" in the history of presidential nominating contests.

"There's never been a candidate with such a strong base representing such a large portion of the electorate," said Garin, adding that the results highlight "the incredible challenge any other candidate has in running against her."

According to the survey, women account for 57 percent of the Democratic primary electorate in the three states, all of which are to vote Feb. 5, Super Tuesday.

The poll was commissioned by Emily's List Women Vote!, which seeks to spur turnout among Democratic women. The group plans to contact women who are potential caucusgoers in Iowa to encourage them to support Clinton.

In the pollsters' view, Clinton's female supporters are likely to see attacks against her, like those during the debate, as having a gender component - a perception encouraged by her campaign.

Yesterday, at her alma mater, Wellesley College, she said, according to the Associated Press: "In so many ways, this all-women's college prepared me to compete in the all-boys club of presidential politics."

The day before, her campaign produced a Web video mocking her opponents for "piling on" at the debate.

In the survey, women gave Clinton high ratings on experience, ability to bring about change, and strength to perform as commander in chief.

At the same time, by 27 percent to 2 percent, they said that being a woman meant she would be a better president.

Clinton's support among Democratic women varied somewhat by age and education level. She did better among those 65 and older (60 percent) than those 18 to 44 (49 percent); worse among college graduates (50 percent) than among women without degrees (58 percent).

In New Jersey she was backed by 56 percent of female primary voters, Obama by 19 percent, Edwards by 11.

Nine hundred women were surveyed in the three states between Oct. 16 and 22. The cumulative results have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.