WASHINGTON — It probably wasn't chance that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's first public event after announcing her interest in running for president -- a stop at a New York health center named for the Chelsea and Clinton neighborhoods -- echoed the name of her daughter.
Nor was it chance that the new speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, took up her gavel for the first time earlier this year surrounded by children, including some of her grandchildren.
In recent days, female politicians have risen to new power and prominence. And they did so -- deliberately -- surrounded by reminders of their motherhood.
Whether being a woman is an asset or liability in national politics may be an open question, but being a mother -- or a grandmother -- appears to be a sure winner.
Strategists say that talking about motherhood is reassuring to voters, some of whom are still uncomfortable with women in powerful jobs. It also helps create a narrative for their lives that connects them to mainstream and traditionalist voters.
"Raising children is certainly something both have in common with millions of Americans, and parents everywhere worry about their kids' future, so why not talk about it?" said Democratic strategist Stephanie Cutter. "It's really no different than talking about a military record or experience in running a business -- it gives voters a sense of who you are."
One example is freshman Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who brought her 11-year-old daughter, Abigail, to the Senate floor for her swearing-in this month. Abigail frequently accompanied her mom on the campaign trail, and the story of her complicated birth -- and the family's struggles with their healthcare plan -- was a frequent campaign theme.
"Being a mom is a big part of who I am. Historically, I don't think there have been enough moms in the U.S. Senate, and I think it was good for mothers across our state to get the sense that someone who understands their lives is in the United States Senate," Klobuchar said recently.
For Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who has been little known on the national stage except as a "San Francisco liberal," highlighting her motherhood and grandmother-hood -- she has five children and six grandchildren -- is also part of a strategy to make her less of a caricature.
