POLITICS: Feminists Face Tough Times After Election, page 1

Leaders of the American feminist movement are predicting another tough for years. The groups lobbied hard to defeat President Bush but were dismayed when he had better support from females than in 2000. They remain concerned about the Bush conservative agenda from court appointments to economic choices that could harm women.

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NEW YORK - America's feminist leaders and their critics agree on at least one current political fact: These are daunting times for the women's movement as it braces for another term of an administration it desperately wanted to topple.

"The next four years are going to be tough, so we must be tougher," National Organization for Women (news - web sites) president Kim Gandy recently told supporters. "Our health, our rights, and our democracy are teetering on the brink."

NOW, the Feminist Majority Foundation and numerous like-minded groups campaigned zealously against President Bush (news - web sites), contending that his economic agenda would inflict disproportionate harm on women and that his potential judicial appointments could jeopardize abortion rights.

To the feminists' dismay, Bush not only won — but he sharply reduced the Democrats' "gender gap" edge among women voters. Republicans also increased their majorities in Congress; new GOP senators include several staunch foes of abortion.

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I find it very interesting that female support for Bush was greater in 2004. This is despite a heavy effort by these groups to prevent that. Like him or demonize him, this highlights the brilliance of Carl Rove. He managed to construct a campaign that negated the efforts of these groups despite being out fund raised.