All four women in the political spotlight this fall fit into the category of Baby Boomers, albeit at different ends. Sarah Palin and Michelle Obama just make it at 44 years old, while Cindy McCain, at 54, and Jill Biden, at 57, are near the leading edge. Though of different ages and backgrounds - and, often, dissimilar attitudes and beliefs - they share with other boomers the cultural history of that generation. Undoubtedly, they have the same kinds of challenges that you as Sandwiched Boomers experience.

We have focused this week on the delicate balance of career and children that the candidate and candidates' wives' have achieved. Both of those currently with growing children - Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin - have acknowledged that they depend upon the help of their families in caring for their children. In Michelle Obama's case, her 71-year old mother Marian Robinson plays the role of nanny to her children. Sarah Palin draws heavily on her husband, Todd, for parenting duties; her mother, Sally (age 67) and father, Chuck (age 69) Heath, and her sister step in when he is unavailable. These women know that they cannot do everything alone and must reach out for support from their families.

As if with children, career, marriage and politics, they didn't have enough to deal with, all of these women also are faced with the potential needs of aging parents, parents-in-law, and even grandparents, putting them in the position of Sandwiched Boomers. Michelle Obama's grandmother-in-law, Madelyn Dunham, is 86 and reported to be in ill health in Hawaii. Cindy McCain's mother-in-law, Roberta McCain, is still independent and feisty at age 96, but at a certain point, she could require assistance. Jill Biden's mother, Bonnie Jacobs, in her late 70's, lives in Pennsylvania and her mother-in-law, Jean Biden, is 91. Sarah Palin's mother-in-law, Blanche Palin, in her late 60's and part Yu'pik Eskimo, lives in Alaska as does her stepmother-in-law, Faye Palin.

So: Michelle, Cindy, Sarah and Jill - we are counting on you. You know from first-hand experience the difficulties faced by Sandwiched Boomers. We hope that whoever occupies the White House and Vice-President's house this coming January, you will be in tune with the needs of other women facing these tough challenges and do what you can to help your fellow Sandwiched Boomers.

Like Governor Sarah Palin and Dr. Jill Biden, 44-year old Michelle Obama has pursued a fulltime career while raising her two young daughters. After completing her Ivy League education - undergraduate at Princeton University and a law degree from Harvard University - she was working at a prestigious Chicago law firm when she met Barack Obama, who came to work for the firm as a summer associate. After marrying, she continued working, using her legal background, in Chicago political and community activities.

Once her husband began running in the primaries, Michelle combined mothering with appearing on the campaign trail. In her appearances, Michelle has been outspoken in her opinions and beliefs, sometimes making controversial statements, such as "For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback." As the campaign has progressed, she has softened her image from the initial, angry positions she took, portraying herself as the embodiment of the American dream.

Do you feel that, as a woman, you are asked to curb the expression of your own opinions when others perceive them as too harsh? Are you forced, in a sense, to air brush your personality, making it gentler? Is it more important to fulfill the expectations of others or to be your authentic self? All of these questions come to the surface as more and more women move up the career ladder or take on more responsibilities in the family and the world.

This Presidential and Vice-Presidential election highlights the important contributions made by women in our society - be they single or married, mothers or not, young or old, rich or poor, from big cities or small towns, in high-powered careers or down-to-earth jobs. The women in this election season are as exciting and controversial as any men candidates have been in the past or are today. Yesterday we focused on 44-year old Governor Sarah Palin, the VP candidate herself, who has been balancing a political career with motherhood for the past 16 years. The mother of five, her candidacy brings to the forefront the continuing struggles of women balancing career and family.

Jill Biden, the 57-year old wife of Vice-Presidential nominee Senator Joe Biden has pursued a career as an educator while mothering their three children. Marrying Senator Biden when his sons were only 6 and 7, she traded her job as a teacher for full-time mothering, adding a daughter together. Later she was back in the classroom as a teacher and reading specialist while studying herself to earn two master's degrees, one in English, the other in Reading. Later Jill added her Ph.D. degree in Education and, for the past 15 years, has been teaching at a technical college. With the current focus of all the candidates on education, her experiences in the classroom are a unique asset.

What do you think you can learn from these successful women to guide you as you face your own endless lists and tough choices every day? Like them, you too may be torn between the needs of children and a demanding career. While not in the spotlight, your efforts are just as complicated as you forge ahead.

Each of you may choose to handle your dilemma in different ways, but undoubtedly support from friends and family can play a significant role in the success of your balancing act. It's nice to have someone to lean on when you feel like you are stretched beyond your limit, about to topple off your perch. So reach out and ask for what you need - it may not be a vote in the booth on election day but instead a vote of confidence!

The 4 women campaigning for the November election represent divergent political positions but they each are dealing with the same challenges as Sandwiched Boomers - struggling to balance work, personal needs, marital relationship, children and aging parents or in-laws. Of course, the one who has initiated the most discussion about balance between career and family is Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, Governor Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin symbolizes different things to different women. To some she is the ultimate ceiling breaker, the first woman on a Republican Vice Presidential ticket. To others, she embodies the ultimate contradiction between family values and personal ambition. Certain women are asking, can she adequately mother her five children while carrying on the national responsibilities required of a Vice-President. Those questions have not been raised when a father of five takes on enormous challenges in his work life, even today when fathers are more involved in the day to day lives of their children. Is this a double standard or justified by the reality of family needs? Do women face unique pulls when they become wives and mothers? Where are women to look now for their role models as they juggle career and family? What direction will the fight for women's rights take now and in the future? Let us know your thoughts as move through this political season.

Tomorrow we will look at the issues raised by the wife of the Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee, Jill Biden.