MILWAUKEE, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. presidential hopeful John Kerry courted the women's vote in Milwaukee Friday saying he would raise the minimum wage and close the gender gap in pay.
Sen. Kerry, D-Mass., whose target audience Thursday was sportsman as he went goose hunting, said Friday too many women are falling behind in today's economy, even though they often work more than one job outside the home.
"Today, for far too many women, the American Dream seems a million miles away, because when you've barely got time to sleep -- who's got time to dream?" Kerry asked.
Women are a key constituency for the Democratic Party nominee. Democrats traditionally do well in the women's vote, but President Bush, seeking re-election, is polling higher than usual for the Republican among women.
Kerry said some 2.5 million women have dropped below the poverty line since Bush has been president, adding, "How dare this administration say this I the best economy in our lifetime?"
Kerry plans to raise the minimum wage from $5.10 to $7 an hour. He also said women make 76 cents for every dollar a man makes and that isn't real equality for women.
