Women Voters, King Makers in 2012

Women were the winning force behind Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, and still favor the president in polls. But Mitt Romney has worked hard to gain ground, arguing that economic recovery -- more than reproductive rights -- is what female voters want from a leader.

Published

7 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

United States, US Politics

People

Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Richard Mourdock, Todd Akin

Places

United States of America, Indiana, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Cleveland

Transcript

SCRIPT: It's tiring to wait in line for a campaign rally, but Jennifer wants her daughter to see the president. It's her future that's at stake in this election. SOUNDBITE 1 Jennifer Scott (woman), stay-at-home mom of one (English, 18 sec): "[I feel like Mitt Romney will take away a lot of my freedoms and choices.] I have a daughter that I'm raising. I want her to have the choice of making -- if she needed to have an abortion -- to have that be her choice, her right. I think Planned Parenthood -- that is very important. It provides services for women who can't afford it. And I think Mitt Romney does not understand the middle class, of which I'm a part of [sic]." In this battleground state of Ohio -- and throughout the country -- women will be the kingmakers on Tuesday. They cast 53 percent of all votes in the last presidential election in 2008 -- nine million more than men -- and helped sweep Obama into office. This time around, it's set to be the same: social issues, like reproductive rights, and even rape, have lit up the campaign. SOUNDBITE 2 Katie O'Neill (woman), Obama supporter (English, 9 sec): "I hear the word 'rape' constantly from men, and them disputing what that means! I also hear them discussing birth control and abortions?!" Those themes, brought up in awkward gaffes by Republican candidates, have not helped Mitt Romney's cause. UPSOUND from political ad saying (English, 4 sec): "Todd Akin said only some rapes are legitimate" UPSOUND Richard Mourdock (man), Republican US Senate candidate, speaking in an Indiana Senate race debate (English, 7 sec): "...I that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen." SOUNDBITE 3 Stella Rouse (woman), assistant professor, department of government and politics, University of Maryland (English, 11 sec): "Women overall feel that in the Democratic Party their rights as women are much more represented because their bodies are left alone, for the most part." When polled, women say they want leaders who focus on social policy -- but like men, they also put the economy at the top of their priority list. That's Romney's pitch to them, like at this rally in Virginia: low taxes and less regulation will lead to more jobs. Merianne Jensen and her friends are listening. As stay-at-home moms, they say they need a strong economy to protect their families, and their husbands' work. SOUNDBITE 4 Merianne Jensen (woman), stay-at-home mom (English, 7 sec): "It's a really tight race. The poll numbers go up and down. And whenever Obama's ahead, I get nervous, and just keeping rooting for Mitt!" More women are thinking like her. While a majority still prefer the sitting president to his rival, polls show the gender gap shrinking in the final days ahead of the election. SHOTLIST: CLEVELAND, OHIO, OCTOBER 25, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV - Jennifer Scott with daughter waiting to enter Obama rally - SOUNDBITE 1 - Pan from Obama 2012 merchandise table to people in line - Tilt from woman's Obama T-shirt to woman's face - Pan from children to woman giving thumb's up sign - WS Obama rally - crowd and American flag, with Cleveland downtown in background - Sequence of family with girl and mother, and their Obama pins - SOUNDBITE 2 Katie O'Neill (woman), Obama supporter EXCERPT FROM CLAIRE MCCASKILL CAMPAIGN AD, SOURCE: MCCASKILL FOR MISSOURI 2012 *NO RESALE for non-editorial purposes* - Excerpt from ad talking about Todd Akin's statement about "legitimate rape", saying: "Todd Akin said only some rapes are legitimate" EXCERPTS OF VIDEO TRANSMITTED ON AUGUST 20, 2012, SOURCE: TODDAKINTUBE *NO RESALE for non-editorial purposes* - shot of Todd Akin speaking to the camera (apologizing) NEW ALBANY, INDIANA, OCTOBER 23, 2012, SOURCE: CBS/INDIANA DEBATE COMMISSION RESTRICTIONS: *NO RESALE for non-editorial purposes* No Japan No Free over the air broadcasters in Australia No US cable news outlets, free over the air networks or stations, their websites and their mobile phone services UPSOUND Richard Mourdock (man), Republican US Senate candidate (English): "...I that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen." COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, NOVEMBER 2, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV - SOUNDBITE 3 Stella Rouse (woman), assistant professor, department of government and politics, University of Maryland FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012, SOURCE: AFPTV - VAR Romney rally - Women Romney supporter and children - Romney with women on podium - SOUNDBITE 5 Merianne Jensen (woman), stay-at-home mom and Mitt Romney supporter - More Romney rally