Washington, Sept. 11 : Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s presence on the McCain ticket, coupled with Hillary Clinton’s absence, could see women voters overwhelmingly favor the Republicans.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released this week showed white women swinging hard against the Democratic ticket. Obama left Denver with an 8-point lead among white women; and by the time John McCain pulled out of St. Paul, Minnesota, with Palin at his side, he had taken a 12-point lead.

Julia Piscitelli of the American University’s Women and Politics Institute, says that the selection of Palin has given the Republicans the much needed opening, but the question on every one’s mind is how long will it last?

“I don’t think this is a real swing [in the polls] until it’s been a week. We’ll need to see whether Sarah Palin is willing to answer questions. ... No one will be a stronger advocate for Barack Obama and Joe Biden than Hillary Clinton,” claimed said Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), one of Obama’s busiest female surrogates. 

Senator Blanche L. Lincoln (D-Ark.) also sounded the Palin-will-wilt-in-the-spotlight theme.

“Sarah Palin delivered a great speech, but we haven’t heard anything else about what she’s going to do. American women are smart, they’re bright and this election isn’t just about Sarah Palin. This is about what they want to do for the country,” Lincoln said.

The Obama campaign has denied that it has a serious problem with female voters. (ANI)