And, as the last election proved, Democrats often have trouble attracting men for opposite reasons. Al Gore, for instance, was hurt in key states by his party's position on gun control, which cut into the union base in some states, such as West Virginia. The gender gap primarily is written about as an electoral phenomenon, when in fact the divide between the sexes drives many of the most intense policy debates in Washington. Abortion rights are just one example. The divide is deep and fundamental, and across the spectrum.
Women generally expect more from government and are far more inclined to support gun control.
Men see national security issues as more important, while women are more inclined to put premiums on domestic security issues such as education and health care. Women, by a 2-1 ratio, were far more inclined to say a congressional candidate's position on abortion was important. The organization, which specializes in donating to women candidates early in campaign cycles, has been instrumental in the rise of Democratic women in Congress since 1985. Some analysts believe that this made the difference in close Senate races in Michigan and Washington, both won by Democratic women. There are 41 Democratic women in the House, and 18 Republican women.