PRESTOPUNDIT -- "It's a team sport, baby!"

A reality check for Mickey Kaus and that weird ex-wife of the gay former Congressman -- I don't think I know a soccer mom in California who doesn't own an SUV -- or (like PrestoMommy) at least really would like to have one. The fact that Schwarzenegger is the poster-stud of the rugged SUV-owning family man only makes the Soccer Mom's heart pound a bit faster.

PoliPundit has more spot on soccer mom political analysis:

No one seems to have a phrase to describe Arnold's politics. Is he a "conservative," a "moderate," a "liberal" or a "pragmatic libertarian?"

None of the above. Arnold Schwarzenegger is... a Soccer Mom!

Your prototypical Soccer Mom isn't a hate-the-greedy-corporations Democrat. Heck, her husband is probably a middle manager at Procter & Gamble. She's a "fiscal conservative," in the sense that she doesn't want more taxes and regulation. She doesn't like affirmative action either, since it goes against her sense of fairness and threatens her childrens' future.

On the other hand, she doesn't want to be seen as a meanie. She thinks Republicans are too hard-edged on some issues. She wishes they were more "tolerant" of minority groups like gays and blacks. She's pro-choice, although she doesn't want abortion to be a widespread practice. She is, of course, an "environmentalist." And she's not averse to Big Government programs like Medicare and Social Security. An easy way to win her vote is to claim that some big-spending entitlement is "for the children." She doesn't see why ordinary people need assault rifles, but she can see why pilots should have pistols.

Now look at Arnold's stated beliefs - vague as they are - and see how they dovetail nicely with Soccer Mom values. When he comes out with detailed policy prescriptions, I bet they'll reflect Soccer Mom values too.

Democrats should be scared of Arnold. He has a massive advantage when it comes to the male vote. If he can appeal to Soccer Moms, he can also steal away women voters who ordinarily provide Democrats with their margin of victory.

(via InstaPundit)

Posted by Greg Ransom