Win or lose, Clinton’s campaign has broken ground, UF professor says

March 3, 2014

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Losses in Tuesday’s presidential primaries in Texas and Ohio could end Hillary Rodham Clinton’s bid for the Democratic nomination, but her campaign is already an interesting study of the current state of women in politics.

“Being a woman affects all aspects of her campaign from her policy positions, to her fundraising, to the clothes she wears,” said Lynn Leverty, University of Florida political science professor and associate director of the Askew Institute on Politics and Society.

Like other women seeking public office, Clinton has had to wrestle with common assumptions about female politicians, Leverty said.

“Female candidates are perceived by the public as having expertise in issues such as education, social services and health care, but as being weaker on national security, infrastructure and some aspects of the economy,” she said. “Since the president is commander-in-chief, this put a woman running for president at some disadvantage.”

Women also have to deal with the fact that press coverage often trivializes their candidacy, Leverty said.

“When there are stories about Hillary’s hair, clothes or laugh, this takes attention away from her policies and message,” she said.

Even if Clinton is unsuccessful in her campaign, Leverty said there are other women who could make a legitimate run for the presidency in the near future. The next female candidate would most likely be one of the eight women who are state governors or one of the 16 female U.S. senators.

“The fact that Clinton has made a credible run this year will help the next woman,” she said.

The state of overall female representation in American government has greatly improved, and for the most part, women are well-represented at the local and state levels, Leverty said. Obtaining a seat in the U.S. Congress is more of a problem for women because of the extremely high percentage of incumbents that win re-election.

“The fact that there are more groups helping train women to run for office, more groups helping with fundraising in both parties and a wide number of professions that can lead to elected office is helping more women run for higher offices,” Leverty said. “In most cases, when women run for public office, they can win.”

Lynn Leverty is available for interviews about Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign and about women in politics. She can be reached by telephone at 352-273-2392 or by e-mail atlleverty@aa.ufl.edu.