Obama or Clinton? Race, Gender, and the Media in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primaries.

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2015-08-15
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en
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The 2008 Democratic presidential primaries are the most significant ones in American history. The primaries featured a viable African American candidate and a viable female candidate. Race and gender play a large role in American politics. Which of these concepts had the most influence on the 2008 Democratic primaries? The focus of this thesis will be on press coverage of the Obama and Clinton campaigns, however, in answering the question if it is possible to argue that Clinton lost the primaries because she is a woman, it is also necessary to take into account the gendered nature of American presidential elections and voting behavior and preferences. In this thesis, I will argue that Clinton did not lose the election because she is a woman, though certain choices Clinton made were definitively influenced by her gender. However, I would argue that the United States was not ready to elect this woman.
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