Quick thought: Why is it when there is a gender gap in the polls...

[BlueCheese]

... that so many people think it must be the women who are voting based on gender, and not the men?

[lunamagica]

1. K&R. Great question!

Can't wait for the justifications on this one...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. What lunamagica said

EOM

[demwing]

3. Is that an issue?

Before you ask "Why is it..." you first have to establish that "It is..."

[BlueCheese]

4. It isn't hard to find a lot of people, on DU and elsewhere...

... that say that women are voting for Clinton because she's a woman. It may not be a majority of people, or even a large minority, that think that, but it's easy to find.

It just struck me that there's this implicit assumption that it's the men's votes who are the baseline, and the women's votes that are anomalous.

[demwing]

5. It's a valid question if it's true /nt

[BlueCheese]

7. Thank you the polite discussion.

[Codeine]

6. That's a damned good question.

I guess when your base is white guys in college the narrative tends to skew a bit ugly regardless of how basically decent the candidate may be.

[lunamagica]

8. Kick for visibility

Sad, but not surprised to see that one of the most insightful questions posted here in a long while, is sinking like a rock.

[Codeine]

9. They have no answer to it.

Their bullshit is just too obvious at this point.

[NurseJackie]

10. Because some people gravitate to ...

... an "explanation" that validates their preconceived notions, to the exclusion of all other reasonable options? A variation of that thing about "rejecting realty and substituting one's own"?

[restorefreedom]

11. i didn't know that so many people DID think that

most people vote for who they like and based on issues. i have never met a single person who has EVER voted for or against based on the gender of the candidate.

[MH1]

12. I agree with you, BUT

A couple Clinton supporters I know IRL - both women - have actually said things like "it's time for a woman to be President!".

Now I don't take from that, that gender is a major reason for their choice to support Clinton. I don't think either of these people would vote for Fiorina if the GE choice were Fiorina and either Sanders or O'Malley.

But, comments like that just reinforces the meme (mistaken IMO) that some people do weigh gender as a significant factor.

[restorefreedom]

13. true, and many would love to see a woman become president

but as you pointed out, fiorina is a nonstarter for a lib. obama didn't win becsuse he is aa but because people believed in him.

and we all have our list of what is important. i think gender is on many people's lists, but probably at the top of very few. just a guess of course. i don't know if any surveys have been done or how people would answer such a question.

[mcar]

14. A great question!

[Starry Messenger]

15. Especially considering the polls.

HRC's numbers with white males are oddly low, considering the proportions in the rest of her polling.