Area Democrats hold events for supporters, undecided women

Female voters who have not selected a candidate to support in the upcoming presidential election were invited to the home of local resident and former Missouri secretary of state Bekki Cook on Saturday for a party hosted by the Cape County Central Democrat Committee.

The role of gender in politics has taken a spotlight in this year's presidential race, first through the ultimately failed campaign of Sen Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and now by the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the running mate of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

The Cape Girardeau event featured Sheila Simon, the daughter of the late U.S. senator Paul Simon of Illinois. She also attended a fish fry sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Area Meetup Group at Cape County Park that followed. The group is made up of volunteers from the 2004 presidential election who decided to stay in touch after the election was over.

"As an Illinoisan I had the opportunity to know Obama before 'all that,'" Simon said. "Obama is who he says he is. He's a really smart, slightly nerdy guy. He's really passionate about making our government work."

She said Obama supporters in Illinois are not even campaigning and that they're jealous of those in Missouri because supporters in Missouri can make a difference. "We have a great opportunity to have a smart guy in the White House," she said.

Tammy Nimmer of Cape Girardeau, a newcomer to the city, said it was nice to see a Democratic presence in the area. A former supporter of Hillary Clinton, she said she's been following Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, for four years.

"I think I was leaning toward Obama anyway. Most Americans are looking for someone in touch. You know, Obama is the only candidate who's proved himself," she said.

"I wouldn't ever consider voting Republican," said Nimmer, who began volunteering at the Obama headquarters on Broadway last week. She has been in Cape Girardeau for nearly a month and came to the fish fry mostly to be with other Democrats. "It's nice to know there are some in Cape," said the Minnesota native.

Brenda Woemmel, a past chairman of the central committee, said "I don't think many Hillary supporters will switch over, because Palin's stand on issues is almost diametrically opposed to issues that we value."

Cook said the issues being discussed were things such as education, health care, war and the economy.

"The party at my house for undecided women was a good thing to do because we learn from our discussion," she said.

Cook said there's more campaigning being done because of all the support available. "We're canvassing, making phone calls. There are so many volunteers involved and we have support from the presidential campaign we've never had before."

Additional events will be held before the November election, The Cape Girardeau Area Meetup Group will have a fall festival at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Eagles Club, 321 N. Spring Ave. in Cape Girardeau, to raise funds. No tickets will be available at the door. Call 334-7744 or any central committee member for tickets. Susan Montee, the Missouri state auditor, will be the speaker.

On the other side of the aisle, the Southeast Missouri State University College Republicans will host a "Women for McCain/Palin" luncheon at noon Wednesday on the fourth floor of the University Center Ballroom.

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