Bush enjoys more support from women than Republicans in the past (Agencies)

Women are having a hard time making up their minds who to support in this White House race.

Opinion polls suggest 60% of the undecided voters in this election are women.

And pollsters believe that they may not make up their mind until they enter the polling booth.

The threat of terrorism is a major concern for women, but they come to different conclusions on which candidate would best keep them and their children safe.

Celinda Lake, an opinion pollster in Washington DC who carries out work for the Democrats, has a thumbnail sketch of that swing female voter.

"She's independent, working outside the home, not college educated, very worried about health care, committed to public schools and thinks the economy is in bad shape. She's suburban and only goes to church on holidays."

Traditionally women are more likely to vote Democrat in the presidential election - and a majority of women are supporting John Kerry.

But pollsters say Senator Kerry has underperformed with women voters.

Whereas Al Gore won the women's vote by 10 percentage points in 2000, Mr Kerry is on average ahead by between five and seven points - worrying for his strategists.

George Bush has more of the women's vote than Republicans usually enjoy.

His strategists put this down to the "security mom" factor - mothers with children concerned about terrorist attacks who perceive Mr Bush to be the leader who will best protect America. 

(Agencies)