Before you commit to a bike, if you are going to ride on ice and snow make sure that it has space for studded tires with fenders (it appears that both your choices do) and that you don't have toe overlap with your front tire. I didn't consider the latter when I picked up a used hybrid, but realized how bad it was on my first commute in snow. Every time I started to slide and had to correct by oversteering in the opposite direction, I caught my toe. That bike got put away and was unused for the rest of winter.

Gears get loaded with ice, as can your freehub. Those have been by biggest issues with geared bikes in the winter. Last fall, I set my almost ultimate winter commuter; disc brakes, fenders, studded tires, dirt drop bars, single speed (this is the "almost" part-if money weren't an issue, I would go with an IGH) 29er. It worked very well for its intended purpose, but I functioned fine (besides losing my brakes to puddles a few times) for two winters on my geared touring bike with rim brakes.

Good luck on the search!