Topeka ? Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Sebelius appears to have strong support among women, who make up the majority of Kansas voters, but that’s not solely because of gender.

Sebelius’ key message improving education seems to have a better ring among women than Republican Tim Shallenburger’s keystone commitment of no new taxes.

“It is the issues that make the difference,” said Mary Banwart, a Kansas University professor who specializes in political communications.

“Research has consistently shown the majority of women do not vote or support women candidates simply because they are women,” she said.

Any way the numbers are sliced, women are an important consideration for any statewide candidate in Kansas.

Overall, women are 54 percent of the state’s 1.6 million registered voters. To break it down further, 43 percent of women voters are Republican; 30 percent are Democratic; and 23 percent are independent.

Banwart, who researched the 2000 elections throughout the nation while at the University of Oklahoma, said men and women often viewed government’s role differently.

“Women many times see the role of government as a framework under which necessary services should be provided,” she said. “There is less reaction to the involvement of government in their lives.”

When it comes to men, she said, “Research argues that men want less government in their lives, and they don’t see the need for that framework to provide certain services.”

As candidates have learned throughout history, finding the right message means voters will beat a path to the ballot boxes.

Banwart said Sebelius’ message of improving education, while aimed at the general public, found a target among women.

“At this point in time, it clearly seems to be resonating with a large majority of the public, but certainly with the female voters,” she observed.

As for Shallenburger’s message, Banwart said, “Taxes are an issue that appeals more to the male constituency.”

But, she added, “That isn’t to say men can’t be interested in education or women not interested in taxes.”

The gender gap showed in a recent media poll that gave Sebelius a double-digit lead and a two-to-one advantage among women.

Generally, Democrats tend to benefit from the gender gap because they often push education and social issues, including programs for children, the elderly and the downtrodden.

“Women tend to care about those issues, even if they are registered Republicans,” said State Democratic Party Chairman Tom Sawyer. “Women are seen as caring more, as kinder and gentler.”

Shallenburger said his campaign is gender-neutral and will have a broader appeal after voters see new television ads.

But he added, “We’ve got to work on women. Women are more likely to vote for a woman.”

He said there’s a percentage of voters he won’t be able to reach.

“Republican or Democrat, 14 percent will just vote for a woman. They’ll be pro-life; they’ll vote pro-choice. It won’t make any difference. Fourteen percent will vote based on gender,” Shallenburger said.

“You lose 8 percent of the Republicans right there. You don’t lose any Democrats. Not over gender,” he added.

The media poll didn’t specify how much support Sebelius had among Democratic and Republican women. But former Sen. Wint Winter Jr., of Lawrence, who works with Republicans for Sebelius, said the group includes women.

“We are all concerned about education, but women sometimes have a more keen insight into the needs for children,” Winter said.

The Sebelius campaign says they aren’t pitching their campaign just to women.

“The message is to all Kansans. The message doesn’t differ at all,” said Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran-Basso. “Men are just as concerned about these issues as women,” she said.