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McCain Woos Women Voters In Colorado

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Oct 2, 2008 9:01 pm US/Mountain

McCain Woos Women Voters In Colorado

By Steven K. Paulson, Associated Press Writer
DENVER (AP) ― GOP presidential candidate John McCain tried to cement his relationship with Colorado's women voters on Thursday, telling them at a town hall meeting they are launching startup companies in record numbers and creating jobs while traditional industries are foundering.

"Women are the fastest-growing business owners in America. The only bright spot in the economy is small businesses," McCain told hundreds of cheering women and a few men attending the Denver meeting to discuss women's issues.

McCain said he would help businesswomen by keeping their taxes low, keeping government off their backs and providing affordable health care. He also praised his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and said he expected her to do a good job in her first and only debate with her Democratic counterpart, Joe Biden.

McCain's visit underscored the importance to both campaigns of getting women to vote, and it came two days after supporters of Democratic candidate Barack Obama told a Denver forum that women would suffer under a McCain administration.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, speaking on Obama's behalf Tuesday, said that women are in the forefront of the current economic crisis because they earn lower wages and have fewer benefits than men who perform similar work.

Obama has promised to eliminate capital gains taxes on small and startup businesses, provide a refundable tax credit of up to 50 percent to help small businesses provide health insurance, and create a Women-Owned Business contracting program.

McCain also focused on the economic turmoil on Wall Street, blaming the nation's economic woes on lax regulation and greed. He said there are not enough jobs for people who are qualified and promised that would change under his administration.

One woman told him she has had four jobs the past eight years and now works as a security guard, despite a degree in engineering.

"We've got to start creating jobs in America," McCain declared.

Another woman asked McCain if Palin had convinced him to allow drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, which McCain has opposed. McCain said he would listen to Palin, but indicated he hadn't changed his mind.

Jennifer Lawton, an Aurora mother, said it was a good sign that Palin isn't abandoning her principles just to be on the ticket.

Her sister, Barbie Christenson, an Aurora homemaker, said she believes the McCain campaign missed an opportunity by trying to keep Palin muzzled and away from the press and public, allowing mostly cameo appearances.

"I think he needs to turn her loose to do what she does best, deal with the public. What she brings to the table is energy," Christenson said.

Outside the hotel where McCain was speaking, Colorado Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, a Democrat, said McCain was relying on Palin to help him win over women voters and that it isn't working.

"Most voters know it's McCain's policies that matter," O'Brien said.

(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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