Celinda Lake is one of the nation’s foremost experts on electing women candidates and on framing issues to women voters. It is her feeling that it is absolutely essential to elect more women to public office. “Women are an amazing group of people, and are amazing public servants who make a huge difference when they hold office,” says Celinda Lake. “Women put more emphasis on public service rather than politics.”

Despite recent gains, the political process is still more difficult for women than for men. “It is still tougher on the women candidates which is amazing after all these years,” said Lake.  “Women don’t have the same kind of finance committees and it is still harder to raise money. They can do it but they depend on smaller contributions and more donations from women. Women need to be more politically active, we dominate every aspect of the economy- buying and selling, and we need to contribute more to women candidates,” added Lake.

The trend for women candidates is concerning to Lake.  “Women are more likely to be considered less viable and more personal questions are asked about women. There used to be a time when a woman candidate had an advantage. But coming out of primaries in higher numbers was in the past; younger women were once more supportive of women candidates when a woman running was fairly unique.  It’s harder than it was as recent as just five years ago,” says Lake.

“We know that young women are not that motivated to run for office, they are motivated for entrepreneurship, and starting small businesses,” said Lake.  “In terms of women in politics, that is problematic.  We have some good training programs but not enough mentorship. Women are turned off to politics by the demands of family, fear of scandals and the believe that they really can’t make a difference if elected.”

American Politics calls Celinda Lake a “super-strategist or, better yet, the Godmother,” and Working Woman says she is “arguably the most influential woman in her field.” She is renowned for her groundbreaking research on single women voters in conjunction with Women’s Voices Women Vote and has helped elect numerous female candidates.

She strongly describes the need for women to run professional campaigns and to invest in polling.  “Women can’t just run grassroots campaigns, polling is one of the most cost effective things you can do in a campaign – it lays out a roadmap for the entire campaign.”  Lake is a pollster that identifies what will be the most effective message. She stays involved as a campaign strategist all throughout the campaign; is part of the collective decision making team.

To read more about Celinda Lake or to contact her, visit: http://www.lakeresearch.com/