With Iowa a three-way heat, the leading Democrats are focusing a lot of energy on women voters -- especially because With Iowa a three-way heat, the leading Democrats are focusing a lot of energy on women voters -- especially because Hillary Clinton's lead among women has shrunk in the early primary states. The Edwards campaign hosted a conference call this morning for journalists to hear from female politicians about Edwards' "Young Families Rising Agenda." This was basically a repackaging of his plans on college affordability, universal health care, job creation, and early childhood education. The six speakers, including former NARAL president Kate Michelman and Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD), focused on how economic insecurity facing the middle class disproportionately affects women, and also on Edwards' electability against a Republican. But they droned on and on, and when the call ended there was dead silence on the line during the question and answer. At this point in the game, the press understands the progressive bonafides of Edwards' domestic policy proposals. If the MSM hasn't covered Edwards' platform sufficiently up to this point, they aren't going to begin now, during the thick of the race. So tell us about the ground game in Iowa, or be straightforward about your appeal to working class women voters, who you desperately need to turn away from Clinton. That would make the news. --Dana Goldtein
