Yesterday, Romney campaign adviser Barbara Comstock told a majority-women group that, although we have the first viable female presidential candidate ever, “The best man for the job is going to be a man.” (No, that’s not a typo.) Comstock spoke at a National Review panel at the National Press Club entitled “Women Voters and the Right Guy.” She was joined by Thompson spokeswoman Karen Hanretty, McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker, and Giuliani spokeswoman Katie Levinson. The panelists explained why each candidate should appeal to women voters – and why women should prefer yet another older, white male to Hillary Clinton. “There is no such thing as a monolithic women’s vote,” said moderator Kate O’Beirne, National Review‘s Washington editor. The panelists agreed. Women are concerned about the same issues as men – primarily national security, taxes, and fiscal responsibility – and the Republican candidates are best equipped to address these issues. Although the spokeswomen didn’t say anything that the politically savvy don’t already know about the candidates, they still reminded women that they shouldn’t vote for a candidate based on anatomy. Levinson said that all voters can trust Giuliani’s “tested” leadership and ability to win “the terrorists’ war on us.” Hazelbaker emphasized McCain’s commitment to winning the Iraq war, thus creating greater security at home and abroad. Comstock mentioned Romney’s market-driven health care plan in Massachusetts. And Hanretty noted that Thompson is a limited government conservative who will give women more choices on education, health care, and personal finances at the local level – which is important at a time when single women are one of the fastest growing groups of homeowners, and women often outlive their husbands. One audience member asked the panelists if it is tough to be a woman on the campaign trail. The biggest difficulty, said Levinson quite seriously, is that it’s tough to run around in heels all day. Hanretty agreed, noting she has to get up much earlier than her male colleagues to do her hair. Women can play the politics game (and look good too), which is all the more reason why the Clinton campaign’s claim that the men “piled on” the lone woman during the last Democratic debate is ludicrous. Hanretty described Hillary best: “Either she’s tough enough to take on the terrorists, or she’s not tough enough to take on Barack Obama.”
