The battle over the women's vote keeps gaining steam as Democrats and Republicans seek to prove which presidential candidate will best serve the interests of women if elected in November. What better time to bring the discussion home than on Sunday, May 13 – Mother's Day – when women all across America who undoubtedly have a major stake in the upcoming presidential election will be discussing the issues the next president will have to tackle.
The majority of those homes will be headed by women, mostly poor mothers with children, who have been impacted the greatest by the prolonged downturn of the economy. These are mothers who decided that it was okay to splurge on themselves for a day, to celebrate their choice to have children while trying not to worry about when their unemployment benefits will end or cuts to their Medicare or Social Security benefits will take effect. They will, for a moment, try not to think about whether they will be able to pay for their children's next dental visit, college tuition, books or even if they earn enough money to pay the mortgage on their home, albeit 77 cents for every dollar a man earns certainly increases the burden.
Several polls show President Barack Obama to be the favorite among women, particularly when it comes to health care, jobs and the economy. First Lady Michelle Obama has proven to be an iconic role model for women and mothers, and she is doing her part to spread the president's message that he cares about the issues impacting women, especially wives and mothers. Republican presidential hopeful George Romney recently found himself defending his wife's, Ann, choice to be a stay-at-home-mom, a choice many mother's wish they had, while also defending his flip-flop decision on abortion.
Women voters, and those who are mothers, will outnumber men on Election Day. We wish every mother a Happy Mother's Day and encourage all mother's to make it Mother's Day once again on November 6, 2012.