Diane Mosier knows exactly what she wants in a president: Someone who is composed under fire. An advocate for women's issues. A leader.

For Mosier, that means Hillary Clinton.

The retired business owner, long active in Democratic politics, describes the former secretary of state as "the most qualified of the bunch" among the crop of contenders for the White House.

Mosier's daughter, on the other hand, was not so sure. A voice-over actress in her 30s, Carli Mosier was leaning toward Bernie Sanders. She liked the Vermont senator's ideas, his passion, his talk of a political revolution.

But as early voting approached, Carli Mosier changed her mind. She wasn't convinced that Sanders will be able to do what he promises. She wants someone who will get things done.

So Clinton will get her vote.

The Houston mother and daughter reflect a much-debated trend that has emerged from this year's battle for the Democratic nomination, as younger women seemed to be flocking to Sanders, while older women gravitated to Clinton.

Is there, many people began to ask, a generational split? Do millennials view the possibility of a female president differently than Baby Boomers? Was Clinton, the first woman within close reach of becoming president, actually stumbling among female voters?

The reality is much more nuanced.

In fact, new numbers seem to indicate that Clinton is winning over female voters.

In the Nevada caucus, Clinton beat Sanders 57 percent to 41 percent among women. And in Texas, a flurry of recent polls show Clinton outpacing Sanders among female voters.

In a Monmouth University poll released Thursday, Clinton led 75 percent to 19 percent among women; an Emerson College survey put her ahead 62 percent to 36 percent.

Issue differences

Sanders' popularity with young women may be due more to their age than their gender, said Elizabeth Simas, a political science professor at the University of Houston.

In general, she said, female voters tend to focus on economic issues, such as pay disparities, parental leave and health care.

But Sanders' focus on social issues, such as economic inequality and affordable college, may resonate more with younger women who are struggling with student debt and facing an uncertain job market.

"His message is targeting young people more than Hillary Clinton's," Simas said. In addition, "younger women don't have the history with Hillary Clinton that older women do. Her being a pioneering first lady wasn't part of their lifetime. It wasn't part of their political socialization."

Diane Mosier, who is 67, understands that disconnect.

Younger women may take for granted things that previous generations had to fight for: access to birth control and to clinics, entry into college, the ability to choose a professional career. "They didn't see the struggle," Mosier said, "but they benefited from the struggle."

For younger women, the idea of a female president no longer seems out of reach. Instead, it seems inevitable.

Similar responses

Still, said Mosier, who serves as president of ROADwomen, a Democratic group in Houston, local support for Clinton crosses generational lines.

At a recent phone bank, she noted, more than half the women drumming up support for Clinton were under 40.

At another event, most of the 400 women were between 25 and 40.

"In the south, we are pretty practical," Mosier said. "You don't generally see Democratic women running toward the fringe element."

Mosier said one conversation with another Clinton fan summed up her feelings. That woman noted that "Bernie is talking about revolution, and I'm talking about evolution."

"That struck a big chord with me," Mosier said. "I want someone who is evolved. That would be Hillary."

The Sanders camp in Houston also reports a similar, intergenerational response. His platform, they say, strikes a chord with women because he calls attention to issues such as raising the minimum wage and health care for all.

"Because so many women are in low-paying jobs, that proportionally affects women more than men. It's more about substantive issues, not particularly women's issues," said Mary Morrison, who organized a "Women for Bernie" meetup.

The gathering, part of a nationwide Sanders meetup event, drew women from 18 to 80, said Morrison, who is 53.

Morrison, who considers herself a feminist, said she respects Clinton's accomplishments, but she based her decision on the issues.

"She's not just my candidate this year," Morrison said. "The person who takes my issues further just happens to be a man."