Katherine Hillier
Managing Editor

In an informal survey, six out of 10 University of La Verne faculty and students agreed that America is ready for a woman president.

And although most of those surveyed said they felt the time was right for such a change, some were uncertain as to whether the whole of America was ready.

“I think only about half the people in this country are ready for it, and that might even be optimistic,” said Felicia Beardsley, associate professor of anthropology.

On Jan 20 Sen. Hillary Clinton declared her intent to run for president in 2008. If she wins, she will be the first woman president in the history of this country.

As a senator from New York, she has a large democratic following; however, her skeptics are harsh and will ensure that she has an uphill battle to the White House.

Clinton has already made great gains in the field of politics by becoming the only first lady to ever be elected to public office, and with this achievement behind her she is now vying for the presidency.

“I do believe America is ready for a woman president,” said Shanae Diaz, a sophomore political science major. “As far as choices go, I don’t think Hillary Clinton is the one – she has too much baggage.”

Those who are opposed to Clinton feel that her past issues during her husband’s presidency, along with her current democratic status, will prevent her from winning the election.

“If it’s Hillary Clinton it’s complicated,” said Hector Delgado, associate professor of sociology. “I think a conservative woman would probably have a better chance at wining, but she still has a shot at it.”

Clinton will be running a tough race; however, her competition will be equally fierce. Barack Obama, Rudolph Guiliani, and John McCain are just some of the many people who are considering a run for the presidency.

Obama is another hot ticket for this candidacy; as a democrat he also has a large following and if he wins he would be the first African-American to hold our country’s highest office. Some Democrats feel that the Democratic nomination may come down to Clinton and Obama, but either way, it will make history.

“I think it will be interesting with Obama and Hilary as a possibility,” said Donovan Petta, a freshman business administration major.

“There are no more sex and racial barriers and that will prove it if either of them end up as president or in the running for it.”

From the results of the last presidential elections, the country as a whole is almost split equally between democrats and republicans, so in order to win Clinton will have to not only appeal to all of the democrats in this country, but she will also have to break party lines and reach out to some moderate Republicans and independent voters.

That will be a difficult task for her considering her more liberal stance on social issues as well as the war in Iraq.

Some people feel that in times of war a man would do a better job as president.

“I think we need a man’s touch as far as the war going on right now,” said Carlena Darden, a freshman legal studies major. “Women are more involved, we’re more sensitive, and I think with this war that’s going on right now we need a steadier hand.”

Putting all polling aside, 2007 will be a great building block in the future progression of women in politics in America.

“I think a woman can win, but the fact that she’s a woman will certainly go against her,” Delgado said.

Katherine Hillier can be reached at khillier@ulv.edu.