Single Females Could Swing Election

W A S H I N G T O N, Aug. 9 -- — Just as Sex and the City seemed to reveal the unexpected power of single women, politicians suddenly are realizing they may have been ignoring a very attractive resource.

Pollster Kellyanne Conway, president of WomenTrend, says smart politicians will acknowledge how important the so-called Sex and the City demographic has become.

"Today's single woman has become a very important demographic in politics, because there are more of them and they are more financially independent and politically minded than they have been in the past," Conway said.

In the year 2000, 24 percent of the electorate was made up of single women. But typically, they don't turn out to vote in high numbers.

Even single girl icon Carrie Bradshaw admitted that she can't drag herself out of Prada and into the polling booth in an episode of Sex and the City.

More Than Sex Appeal

What would send young, single females to the polls? Al Gore's infamous kiss gave him a big boost with the single crowd, but Democratic political strategist Celinda Lake says they're looking for something more serious than sex appeal.

"All the photos are of the family of four in the suburban home with the dog and two kids," Lake said. "So people say, 'Who's talking to my life?' "

Amy Larocca, a contributing editor at New York magazine, says single women often feel left out because they're not part of a family unit.

"From the soccer moms to the NASCAR dads — nobody's really talking about people who aren't in families," Larocca said.

Top concerns for Larocca and other single ladies are retirement investments and economic security.

Single Females Set the Pace

"The Sex and the City voter, if you will, is a very urban, very upscale, trend setting woman in her late 20s or mid-to late 30s," Conway said.

These women — who have increasing economic clout — tend to set the pace for other singles around the country, a trend big business has already recognized.

"One must ask themselves, if corporate America, Madison Avenue gets it, where are the politicians? To understand someone culturally means you can attract them politically," Conway said.