Skip to main content
News release

America’s Moms Turn Watchful Eye to Presidential Debates

September 28, 2012
MomsVote

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Moms Around the Country Watching the Debate Closely, and Hosting Debate Watching Parties, to Focus on Issues Important to Them and Their Families
WASHINGTON, DC – With this year’s election pulling into the homestretch, mothers all across the country are listening carefully to hear what the candidates have to say about the issues that are most important to them, and they’ll be paying particular attention on October 3 when the presidential candidates hold their first debate on domestic policy in Denver, CO. The online and on-the-ground grassroots group MomsRising is encouraging its members to watch the debate closely, as well as to host debate-watching parties across the country, and has released a special edition of a Debate Bingo game, which will allow moms and others to keep score when the candidates’ address issues important to America’s mothers and families.  
 
A recent poll by the YWCA USA found that, regardless of party affiliation, American women are most concerned about the disappearing middle class (70% of women identified this as a primary concern), the solvency of Social Security (67% of respondents said they were concerned about whether Social Security benefits will be available when they retire), and affordable health care for themselves and their families (a concern shared by 67% of respondents). Additionally, 41% of women identified themselves as the primary breadwinners in their households in the last four years; 33% reported that they have delayed seeking healthcare and 24% have lost a job.    
 
“Moms have a lot at stake in this election and we’re paying attention to what the candidates say about the issues that most directly affect us and our families,” said Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, co-founder and executive director of MomsRising.  “We’re concerned about providing for our families financially, making sure they have accessible and affordable health care, and that we’re able to do all of these things by receiving equal pay for equal work.  America’s moms are an important voting demographic and one that the candidates could only ignore at the cost of the election.”
 
In 2008, American moms helped determine the outcome of the election and are poised to play an important role again. 
 
 
MomsRising’s 2012 Debate BINGO Cards are designed to help busy mothers focus in on certain issues and compare the candidates various positions. 
 

# # # #

MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.