Debbie Butler of West Ashley, a self-described "40 something," is among the thousands of voters who watched the Democrats move about the state last week. While the candidates talked about tax cuts and Iraq, Butler wanted to hear something else.

"It's not about the money. It's not what can be put in my pocket," she said outside a local Wal-Mart store. "I want to know what they plan on doing in employment and education. I don't want to hear the bashing. Talk about the issues and what they're going to do for the people realistically."

The South Carolina race appears headed down to the wire and potentially could be a showdown between North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. One expert predicted the women's vote could play a role in determining how much longer the hunt goes on."After the turn of events in Iowa and New Hampshire, the women's vote is going to make the difference going forward," said University of Pennsylvania professor Nancy Bauer. "It is the critical vote. Women are the new voters, and new votes are going to carry the election."

Bauer, founder of the nonpartisan group WomenMatter, will be in Columbia tonight for a get-out-the-vote rally designed to boost turnout among women. Her message will be for women to take five friends with them to the polls.

"Women are the experts on education," Bauer said. "They're the experts on health care. They make the appointments for their mothers-in-law. They make the appointments for their husbands."

But with all that expertise, women still "have not turned this expertise into a voice," Bauer said.

By no means do all the women in South Carolina vote Democratic. Nor are they motivated to go to the polls for the same reasons. But women outnumber men in terms of total number registered, making them a formidable force.

Women make up about 52 percent of South Carolina's 2.1 million registered voters. White women account for 829,605 of those voters, black women, 343,696, according to the state Election Commission.

On the stump, the seven Demo-crats who visited the state last week rarely delivered a message crafted specifically for women. Instead, they cast a wider net, trying to attract interest from all Democrats who will be voting.

Many political watchers say a key concern for women ahead of the November general election is that the next president could appoint as many as three new judges to the Supreme Court, potentially bringing the debate on abortion back to the forefront.

Whitney Thwaites, 20, a junior at the College of Charleston, said she plans to base her decision on education, health care and national security. She backs Kerry. "I think he is the best candidate for getting us out of Iraq and for his views on health care."

Lauren Jordan, 20, is also a junior at the college. Active in the Young Democrats group, Jordan has been encouraging her friends to register and vote. She thinks that college women and first-time voters will play a larger-than-expected role in Tuesday's primary as a result of political groups getting the word out and trying to raise awareness.

Jordan plans to vote for Edwards. "Education is so important. Edwards was the first person in his family to go to college. He has a strong stance on education."

Some women who will be voting Tuesday said their overriding issue is the same as for Democratic men: They want a change in the White House.

"It's getting George Bush out of office for a multitude of reasons," said Noula Tassios, 35, of Charles-ton. Tassios believes she is not alone. "Everyone I know is voting in the primary and against George Bush."

But like many voters in South Carolina and throughout the country, Tassios remains undecided on which candidate is best positioned to oust Bush.

"I still haven't decided if I'm going (Wes) Clark or Kerry. I guess I'll decide as the curtains close behind me."

WANT TO GO?

Tonight's WomenMatter forum begins at 7 p.m. at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia.

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