A member of President Bush's Cabinet makes a stop in Bowling Green.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao was out stumping for her husband, Senator Mitch McConnell.

Chao spoke to a group of about 150 area women about McConnell's re-election campaign for U.S. Senate.

But while she's out trying bring in some votes, she's also keeping a close eye on the economy and what women expect out of the U.S. government.

It's an election with issues catching the interest of many women.

"I am concerned about the stability of our nation. I don't want quick fixes," said Debbie Fox, a Bowling Green resident.

"I'm interested in the economy and the affordability of some of the big issues facing our country," added Lynn Williams, a Bowling Green resident.

"Stocks, the war and taxes. I guess those are the main ones," Vivian Jones assured, also of Bowling Green.

Today, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao listened to those concerns.

"As someone who's been dedicated all my life to ensure that women are empowered and can advance in mainstream America, I think it's wonderful I'm working with women and getting more women involved," Chao said.

And with unemployment rates up in nearly every Kentucky county, Chao says that's a problem both she and her husband share concern.

"It's very important that our state gets the funding that we need to invest in our universities and in economic development so we can keep more of our children home, so we can create more jobs," she added.

Nationally, Chao hopes the recent passing of the economic rescue package will help ease the concerns of all Americans.

"The economic rescue package was something that had to be done. A lot of us didn't like to see it happen, but to do nothing was not an option," she said.

But it's still a bailout even leaving some Republican women with mixed emotions.

"I wasn't personally in favor of the bailout, but I'm optimistic that that was the right decision," Fox said.

"Do I believe it needed to be done? Yes, I do. Do I regret that we got there? Yes, I do," Williams added.

According to a CNN Opinion Research Poll, 59-percent of Americans actually believe the country is headed for a depression.

Mrs. Chao says she doesn't think we're headed in that direction, but whether or not harder economic times are ahead is hard to say.