New York, Sep. 1 : John McCain’s running mate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is unlikely to bring in the female votes that he requires to win the November 4 presidential poll.

Though McCain has probably earned candidacy points through Palin being a life member of the National Rifle Association and a staunch anti-abortion advocate, the Fox News says that her stance on abortion, in particular, could make it difficult to win over disgruntled supporters of former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Sources close to McCain told Fox News. com on condition of anonymity that the campaign hopes to capture former Clinton supporters still disheartened over her loss to Barack Obama.

National Organization for Women PAC Chairwoman Kim Gandy released a statement saying Clinton supporters will find Palin is not an “advocate” for women.

“Senator John McCain’s choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate is a cynical effort to appeal to disappointed Hillary Clinton voters and get them to vote, ultimately, against their own self-interest,” she said.

“Governor Palin may be the second woman vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket, but she is not the right woman. Sadly, she is a woman who opposes women’s rights, just like John McCain,” Gandy added.

Even so, a recent FOX News/Opinion Dynamics Poll shows that the most important issue confronting female voters in the 2008 election is the economy, and the McCain campaign said it thinks her record in Alaska will sway voters.

Among those women surveyed in the poll, 40 percent said the economy is their number one issue, followed by health care at 13 percent, the Iraq War at 12 percent and terrorism/national security at 8 percent. Three percent of those polled said abortion rights were their top concern.

McCain’s selection of Palin as the first Republican woman vice presidential candidate is the latest — and boldest — attempt by the Grand Old Party to target women in this election. (ANI)