Women and Palin

The AP recently had a story entitled "Palin Power: Fresh Face Now More Popular Than Obama, McCain" (see here). It discusses the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, in which voters were asked for their opinions on McCain, Palin, Obama, and Biden. It states that Sarah Palin "earns positive reviews from 65% of men and 52% of women."

Why does she earn a higher rating among men than women? I was thinking about this as I heard various reactions to the Alaskan governor. Immediately after her selection as John McCain's running mate, there were Christian women who contended that Palin should stay at home with her kids rather than serve in public office. They referred to Bristol Palin's pre-marital pregnancy in support of their position.

The day after Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention, NBC Nightly News interviewed two women from Cincinnati, Ohio. One was a flower-store owner, and she presented Palin as a genuine, salt-of-the-earth, regular person who understands the problems of middle-class families. The other woman, however, contended that Palin is an ambitious politician. I've communicated with other women who view Palin as another Hillary Clinton--as someone who will say the right things to get elected, who places her ambition above her own family, who actually does not understand the middle class, since she and her family make enough money to give Bristol options that many families do not have.

I can say why I like Palin. She's conservative. She's independent. She's pro-life. She's hot. (To be honest, I have somewhat of a crush on her, though I suppress that, since I'm not supposed to covet another man's wife.) But why do so many women have a different reaction? Is it jealousy, or instinct, or what?