Here was one hypothetical question put to 12 white Milwaukee-area women voters during a two-plus-hour focus group sponsored by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania on a Tuesday August night: To qualify for the time-saving HOV lane for a 90-minute car trip, you must choose as your passenger either Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. Who's your choice?

To college administrator Jody Wamser, 55, Obama would be "more interesting to talk to, more relaxing." Michelle Tina Wilke, 38, an electrical wirer, picked the "friendlier" Obama. And 24-year-old Suzy Schreiber, a retail clerk, predicted a "more fun" trip with Obama

In fact, all 12 women unanimously told the man conducting the focus group, respected Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, that they preferred to carpool with Obama rather than Romney. That's the good news for the incumbent Democrat. The not-so-good news for the president is that none of the three women quoted above — each of whom voted for him in 2008 — is now committed to voting to re-elect him on Nov. 6.