This is awful. How to explain such a thing. A female governor -- a Democrat -- has announced her support for a male candidate for president. The Washington Post's Dan Balz has taken notice.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, one of the most prominent female elected officials in the country, announced this morning her endorsement of Barack Obama's presidential candidacy.
"I think we need fresh voices and fresh messages of unity and coming together," Napolitano told the Post in a telephone interview. "I think he's a new young voice who has new appeal, particularly for those of us in the West."
Napolitano praised Clinton as a strong candidate, but said, "This is not about Senator Clinton. This is about what is the unique freshness. He does bring the unique ability to excite, to bring young people into the process ...and to attract independent voters.
The Napolitano endorsement could help Obama in Arizona's Feb. 5 primary, but its larger significance is to signal that Clinton does not have a lock on support from top female Democratic elected officials.
Cross-gender political choice. Frightening. What next.
PS: Word on the street is that Napolitano could be nominated as vice-presidential candidate.
