Unmaried women of Oregon, unite!

You have nothing to lose but . . . actually, you have nothing to lose. And everything to gain.

From MyDD last week:

Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research released a polling memo discussing the importance of unmarried women to the 2008 election. Unmarried women overwhelmingly want change, strongly oppose the Iraq war, and support troop withdrawal. Previous research by the polling firm suggests that they can be motivated to vote by a ballot initiative. And though 20 million unmarried women failed to vote in 2004, the group is poised to vote in record numbers in 2008 if they can be effectively mobilized.

Even though the numbers improved in 2006, that's a big if: This is a slice of the electorate that hasn't been registering in big enough numbers, let alone turning out to vote.

The MyDD post includes a comparison by GQRR that might make your jaw drop: In terms of size and party loyalty, the unmarried women who vote Democratic have potential clout comparable to the white evangelicals within the Republican base. From the same GQRR report:

Unmarried women are poised to tip the 2008 election in progressive's favor. In an electorate that is hungry for change, this cohort is the hungriest, with 78 percent saying the country is on the wrong track. Unmarried women's ire is focused firmly on the Republicans, and this is reflected in new poll findings that show Democrats poised to blow Republicans out among this group in 2008. In a generic presidential match-up, unmarried women favor the Democrat by a 70 - 24 point margin and in named match-up, Hillary Clinton leads Rudy Giuliani 66 percent - 30 percent among this cohort.

That, my friends, is what we call an ass kicking. But we still have to get those prospective voters' feet into boots.

(Alert viewers can spot Digby in that ad, by the way.)

I haven't been able to find the current numbers for voting-age unmarried women, registered or unregistered, in Oregon, although their track record of exercising the franchise hasn't been great.

That's why Women's Voices, Women Vote is going after that potential electoral blockbuster.

The GQRR report continues:

If progressives are to bring unmarried women to the polls, we must engage them with an agenda that speaks to the issues they face in their own lives. Along with Iraq, this cohort places a strong emphasis on economic security, including health care. Combined with strong support for a reduction of troops in Iraq, a message that emphasizes these progressive reforms will meet these voters--and potential voters--where they live.

Hm. Iraq, and economic security including health care. What junior senator from Oregon is totally exposed on those issues?

(More information here.)

(Cross-posted at Loaded Orygun.)