Women Across the US Rally Behind Martha Coakley for US Senate

Cross-posted with permission from The New Agenda.
By Halane Hughes

Who will replace Ted Kennedy, a legend in US politics? The national eye is on the special primary election for the US Senate which will be held tomorrow December 8th. Many say this Democratic primary will decide the race in blue state Massachusetts.

Women from around the country want to have their say in this election. According to a review by The Boston Globe, women from EVERY STATE have donated to Martha Coakley’s campaign.

Political fund-raising has long been dominated by men, but for the Coakley campaign two-thirds of its donors are women, a review by the Globe of her campaign finance reports shows.

The Globe reports that one-tenth of the campaign’s money came through Emily’s List who recommended Coakley to its members. The group’s spokesperson told the globe:

members are mindful of the potential to shatter a glass ceiling in Massachusetts. EMILY’s List members are energized for Martha Coakley and are looking forward to helping elect Massachusetts’ first woman to the United States Senate.

The Boston Herald reports that Martha Coakley received the endorsement of Gloria Steinem.

Steinem, the nation’s preeminent feminist leader, said electing Coakley would be historic.

As the first woman ever to represent Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate, she will be an historic advocate for women and families, and a voice for unity in the state and the nation,” said Steinem.

The campaign recently announced endorsements of high powered women from the state calling Coakley “a courageous public servant and a champion for women”.

Endorsing Coakley for United States Senate are: Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (retired), the first woman to reach the rank of three-star General in the United States Army; Mary Beth Cahill, a former Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Kennedy, campaign manager to Senator John Kerry’s Presidential campaign and former Executive Director of EMILY’s List; Ann Lewis, senior advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Presidential campaign and White House Communications Director during President Bill Clinton’s second term; and Evelyn Murphy, former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and the state’s first female statewide officeholder.

“Martha Coakley has the leadership and determination to be a United States Senator of great distinction,” said General Kennedy. “I’m endorsing Martha because I share her deep and abiding commitment to public service and to making our nation safer and more prosperous for everyone.”

“Martha Coakley truly is a different kind of leader who brings people together to solve the problems our communities face,” said Mary Beth Cahill. “There will never be another Senator Ted Kennedy, but Martha shares his tireless commitment to Massachusetts. Martha will be an outstanding advocate as United States Senator just as she has been for years as Attorney General and Middlesex District Attorney. She will be a Senator who works to continue Senator Kennedy’s lifelong concern for those without a voice in Washington.”

“Martha Coakley is a leader who gets results for Massachusetts families,” said Ann Lewis. “When subprime mortgage lenders’ predatory practices led to the foreclosure crisis, Martha took action, pushing for loan modifications to enable families to keep their homes. When online sex predators threatened our children through using the Internet, Martha worked with Facebook and MySpace to make websites safer for children – and for all of us. I’m endorsing Martha because she has the experience, the vision and the record to be an outstanding Senator.”

“I support Martha Coakley for U.S. Senate because she brings a progressive approach to addressing the challenges we face in our Commonwealth and in our country,” said former Lieutenant Governor Murphy. “Martha will work to bring long-term vitality to our economy through job creation and appropriate regulation of Wall Street. She’ll work to make sure that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care, and her approach to energy reform will balance meeting our needs with protecting our environment. I believe Martha will be a terrific Senator for Massachusetts.”