Week of June 15, 2007
Barney Frank endorses Tsongas
Attorney and college dean Niki Tsongas secured a key endorsement for her congressional bid last week from Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, the second-longest serving member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation and a 27-year veteran of the U.S. House.
Frank's endorsement is the latest sign that Tsongas is gaining traction in her bid to replace Democratic Rep. Marty Meehan in Massachusetts's fifth congressional district. In addition to Frank and EMILY's List, Tsongas has secured endorsements from the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus, the Billerica Firefighters Union, and former Rep. Jim Shannon, who held this seat before Meehan. While Meehan had decided not to endorse a successor, his wife, Ellen Murphy Meehan, has endorsed Tsongas and is serving as chairwoman of the Tsongas campaign.
Tsongas has seen a boost in fundraising since she kicked off her campaign with a 24-hour tour of the district in mid-May. After the kickoff, the Tsongas campaign raised over $43,000 in a week. But Tsongas's four Democratic opponents are proven fundraisers, and she will have to continue this grueling pace to raise the $1.5 million needed to win the crowded Sept. 4 Democratic primary.
The possibility of electing a Democratic woman to Congress from Massachusetts -- it's been 35 years -- has generated great excitement among women voters. Over 300 people turned out for her "Women for Niki Tsongas" event in Boston on June 11, giving her an additional fundraising boost heading into the summer.
Clinton surges ahead with women, dominates debate, polls
Journalists and pundits agreed: Hillary Clinton was the winner of the second Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire on June 3. Pundits said Hillary looked "presidential," "natural" and "forceful," and "presented herself as a uniter within the party."
The New York senator's stellar debate performance coincides with new polling showing her continuing to lead her Democratic rivals -- a lead that is due to strong support from women. According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted 5/29 through 6/1, Clinton's 15-point lead over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, her nearest competitor, is due entirely to the fact that women support her over Obama by a margin of more than two to one (51 percent vs. 24 percent). The Post notes that women dominate the primary electorate in early voting states like New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina. Individual state polls also show Clinton leading her rivals.
EMILY's List President Ellen R. Malcolm was recently named a national chair for the Clinton campaign -- joining other influential and trailblazing women leaders like Sen. Barbara Mikulski (Md.) -- and underscoring the importance of EMILY's List in mobilizing this critical bloc of women voters. EMILY's List is helping Clinton raise early money from its large grassroots donor network and will continue its support as primary season approaches.
EMILY's List freshmen targeted in early GOP mudslinging
First-term Reps. Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) have been in Congress only six months, but they are already the targets of vicious campaign attacks by the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is anxious to win its seats back in 2008 and regain control for the GOP.
The NRCC launched an advertising blitz over Memorial Day weekend attacking Giffords and Gillibrand, along with several other first-term Democratic targets, claiming they are too aligned with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attempting to paint them as "far-left extremists."
The NRCC hopes its slew of early robo calls, radio ads, and web-based outreach will help the GOP take back these Republican-leaning seats. But it won't be easy to unseat Giffords and Gillibrand; knowing they were top GOP targets, both women kicked off their campaign fundraising early. As of March 31, the close of the last public filing period, Giffords had a hefty $415,000 on hand for her re-election campaign and Gillibrand had nearly $552,000. Gillibrand outraised all her freshmen colleagues in the first quarter and even raised more money than any other member of Congress except Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. It's a good start on the millions they will need to raise to keep their seats in 2008 and ensure that Democrats hold onto the House -- and that Pelosi holds her gavel as the nation's first woman Speaker.
EMILY's List women take the reins in battling wage gap
The Supreme Court ruling Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company severely limits employees' ability to sue employers for pay discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The Court said complaints must be filed within 180 days "after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred."
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the only woman on the Court, called on Congress to correct the discriminatory legislation, which will likely affect women the most. EMILY's List women in Congress immediately began working on legislation that would correct the ruling.
Sens. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Barbara Mikulski (Md.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), and Ted Kennedy (Mass.) introduced legislation in the Senate to remove a technical hurdle created by the Supreme Court ruling and ensure that workers are able to enforce their legal right to equal pay. Reps. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.) and George Miller (Calif.), and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.) is set to introduce legislation to enhance the ability of women and others to gain protection from the courts for discrimination in the workplace.
Rep. DeLauro asserted that she is "joining with my colleagues to introduce clarifying legislation so there is no further question about our commitment to ending pay discrimination and closing the wage gap." Reps. Carolyn Maloney (N.Y.), Louise Slaughter (N.Y.), Lois Capps (Calif.), Hilda Solis (Calif.), Lynn Woolsey (Calif.), Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), and Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) have all re-affirmed their support of the Paycheck Fairness Act.