Democrats say that Whitman and Fiorina are “Republicans who happen to be women, rather than women who happen to be Republicans.” 

In other words, women will vote in the election based on policies, not gender, according to recent Los Angeles Times and USC polls.  

The National Organization for Women even endorsed Brown the day after the tape was made public about his recorded conversation of someone in his staff calling her a ‘whore.’ Bloomberg Businessweek notes that the president of NOW still accuses Whitman of being one of “the most anti-women candidates to run in California in decades.”

NOW president Patty Bellasalma says Whitman and Fiorina are loosing female supporters because they oppose certain values that many women represent, such as anti-rational gun-control laws, pro off-shore drilling, and anti-choice. 

"Meg Whitman spent millions of dollars attacking a woman's right to choose during this campaign. Jerry Brown is the only candidate for Governor who we trust to protect a woman's right to choose."

Despite Brown’s influx of female supporters, female critique and Whitman spokesperson still holds tight to her opposition of Brown. 

“The use of the term ‘whore’ is an insult to both Meg Whitman and to the women of California. This is an appalling and unforgivable smear.” 

According to ABC News, many women feel that they have been betrayed by Whitman and Fiorina in their rights and character as women, which men aren’t as equally affected by. 

The Los Angeles Times still points out the many disadvantages Republican women are currently facing, because women generally vote for candidates who support abortion rights, as well as hesitate to vote for corporate leaders, which Whitman and Fiorina have both had experience in.  

In order to gain back women supporters, Whitman and Fiorina may need to make strides to alter their positions on issues like abortion or women’s health care, but for now, the ideologies that Whitman and Fiorina have simply seem to be more geared towards a male audience.  

Reach reporter Stevee Jo Eads here. 

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