[arthurus]

It's true. A lot of Republicans are conservative socially as well as economically and that means they won't vote for a new category of candidate. That means they won't vote for a woman, or they think they wouldn't vote for a woman. It has been hard enough getting black male candidates past this form of conservatism but it is happening, slowly, but it is happening. It doesn't mean racist or sexist, just unwilling to make what they think of as new relationships, unwillìng to break tradition.

[x]

Could be. I'd want to see a breakdown by sex. A lot of women don't trust women politicians.

I suspect some of it has to do with fear that Palin will put her foot in her mouth or disappoint voters in some major way.

People have gotten a lot more demanding of politicians lately: they don't want someone like Obama who doesn't have the experience or the temperament, or someone like Bush who makes them cringe or wince too often.

Palin has yet to prove that she's up to the job, so voters who aren't already committed to her will go with someone who looks less risky, at least superficially.