Michele Bachmann's run for the White House
Gender differences still apparent in campaigns
by Cathy Wurzer, Minnesota Public RadioSt. Paul, Minn. — This year marks the third Iowa caucus season to include a strong female candidate. In 1999, Elizabeth Dole dropped out after the Iowa Straw Poll. Four years ago, Hilary Clinton finished third, and of course, this year Michele Bachmann is competing.
At Iowa State University in Ames, professor Dianne Bystrom has been studying how female candidates are covered during campaigns.
Bystrom says she has researched every gubernatorial and U.S. senatorial race between male and female candidates since the 1990s, and she told MPR's Cathy Wurzer that female candidates face more personal criticisms than male candidates.
