The Hill News

The 2012 presidential race is another historic one for women. Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann regularly make the short lists of top GOP contenders, registering in the polls and generating throngs of enthusiastic supporters. Four years after Hillary Clinton's defeat, we find ourselves once again asking if a woman could really occupy the Oval Office. But before we start entertaining the notion of a woman president, we need consider whether Palin and Bachmann can break out of the pack and realistically achieve frontrunner status.

The horserace is in full swing, and polls show Mitt Romney with a big lead. Hillary Clinton was the clear Democratic frontrunner at this time four years ago. In contrast, Palin and Bachmann are not polling strongly at this early but critically important stage. Romney leads both women by double-digits in most polls. Bachmann is polling in single-digits. Clearly, they have much ground to make up.

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