More Women to Seek High-Profile Political Roles

Sarah Palin continues to draw big audiences to Republican events, and some say she helped Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss pull off a victory in a state run-off. A University of Alabama professor believes Palin will continue drawing attention well into the new year and, quite possibly, longer.

“She will continue her efforts to be a central figure in the Republican Party,” says Dr. Janis Edwards, associate professor of communication studies, “but other forces will see to it she isn’t in line for a viable run at the presidency in 2012.”

While another chance at the White House may not be in line for Palin, Edwards believes Palin’s popularity, both during and after the election, will inspire other women to seek office, and prominent ones at that.

“In the wake of Palin’s candidacy, more Republican women will seek high-profile roles, and at least one will be much-talked-about as a possible member of the GOP ticket in 2012,” she says.

A possible member of the 2012 Democratic ticket will be Hillary Clinton.

“She’s not done yet with a possible future White House bid,” Edwards adds. “It’s unlikely Hillary Clinton will return to Congress after her work as Secretary of State (provided she is confirmed), but she is still young enough to seek an executive elected position, either as a governor or, more likely, another White House run. Bill Clinton remains a complicating factor in Hillary’s plans, but that may fade over the next four to eight years.”

Edwards, an associate professor in the UA College of Communication and Information Sciences, is editor of a forthcoming book on gender and political communication in America. Edwards has written extensively on the roles and rhetoric of women candidates and first ladies, and their representation in political cartoons and other media formats, for a number of academic journals and conferences.