DISTAFF INFECTION:

Clinton Steps Up Appeals to Female Donors (Matthew Mosk, 5/06/07, Washington Post)

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton is increasingly banking on politically active women to keep her on pace with Sen. Barack Obama in the ongoing sprint for campaign cash.

Clinton is rolling out a series of events tailored to women, a group her campaign believes has great untapped fundraising potential, beginning last month with a New York waterfront concert headlined by singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton and continuing last week with a luncheon in Los Angeles.

Her effort is being coupled with a fresh push by Emily's List, the nation's largest political action committee, which recently mailed its supporters and appealed to them to contribute to Clinton's campaign.

"I think women are going to be the foundation of her victory," said Ellen R. Malcolm, president of Emily's List, which supports female candidates. "These are people who are thrilled with the idea of electing a woman president."

As Ms Royal just demonstrated, playing the woman card is dubious strategy in a general campaign, though it's obviously of benefit in the female party.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 7, 2007 12:00 AM