The National Women`s Political Caucus is circulating to presidential candidates a list of women it says are qualified to be vice president and should not be overlooked by candidates considering a running mate to balance the ticket in hopes of victory election day, Nov. 2.
Harriett Woods, president of the bipartisan caucus based in Washington, D.C., says a list of six Democrats has been delivered to the party`s declared major candidates and a list of no more than six Republicans is to be sent to GOP candidates this week for their consideration before the Feb. 18 New Hampshire primary.
The Republican list is likely to include the name of the only woman GOP senator, Nancy Landon Kassebaum of Kansas, as well as women who hold or have held Cabinet posts.
The Democrats are Dianne Feinstein, former San Francisco mayor; Sharon Pratt Kelly, mayor of Washington, D.C.; Rep. Barbara Kennelly of Connecticut; Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland; Ann Richards, Texas governor; and Rep. Patricia Schroeder of Colorado.
”We`re not demanding that a woman be on the ticket,” Woods says, ”but there are women who are as qualified on the same basis as many of the men whose names will be put forward-what they will bring to the ticket on the basis of geography, constituencies, energy, position and ideology.”
The caucus lists, drafted by the Democratic and Republican task forces, began at about 20 names each and were pared to a half dozen, which limited them to well-known politicians from different regions and levels of government.
”We may end up with a presidential candidate from the Midwest,” Woods says. ”How do you balance that? Well, you`ve got a Dianne Feinstein representing California but who also represents women who have been mayors of large cities, who have the stature of having been elected to be administrators in diverse and difficult metropolitan areas.
”Sharon Pratt Kelly represents women of color, but also is a woman who ran a tough race and represents the East, and a lot of the kinds of constituencies whose needs we have to meet. Depending on the presidential nominee, she might have balancing appeal.
”Barbara Kennelly of Connecticut is a consummate insider politician who represents the depressed Northeast. She brings the power of her own political ability and the recognition of her peers in Congress who will get behind her.”
Mikulski`s strengths, Woods says, include her experience on appropriations: ”She is seen as a feisty person who is an advocate, but also financially very knowledgable.”
Probably first on the list, says Woods, is Richards because ”she very recently demonstrated the ability to wage a tough election battle and represents Texas, which is often looked to as the balance for any slate. Here`s a women who beat the boys.”
Woods says Colorado`s Schroeder built her expertise in non-traditional areas on the Armed Services Committee.
”At a time when we are talking about how we can shift our priorities and our expenditures from defense to domestic programs, she is someone who would really be able to address it, particularly if the nominee is a (Arkansas Gov. Bill) Clinton, who is not necessarily a Washington person who is going to be really familiar with the intricacies of the budget.”
The caucus also is fighting perceived backlash against the first time a woman was tabbed as vice presidential material: In 1984 Walter Mondale, the Democratic candidate, selected New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro.
”With Gerry, there was an organized effort by women`s groups to get Mondale to draft a woman, break the barrier,” Woods says. ”That`s not where we are anymore.
”One of the biggest differences between `84 and `92 is that there was a desperate look in `84,” Woods says. ”What woman is qualified? What woman is visible enough? That`s not true now. You can talk about selecting someone like Ann Richards without having to say it`s affirmative action.”
The caucus has not put forth a list of women candidates for president.
Says Woods:
”Realistically, we need more women moving up that pyramid. Even if I`m not sure they can win, we have to be willing to invest in those people so they`ll be there to run for higher office.”
Among those seeking to build the pyramid are the more than 100 women in the field for Congress.
The nation`s focus on domestic issues is one of several factors Woods believes will make `92 a banner year for women candidates at all levels.
”The agenda now is a domestic agenda, not a cold war agenda. For people like me who ran in `82 and `86, we always had to face `Are you tough enough to push the button?` or `What do you mean you are going to cut defense for domestic programs?”` says Woods, a former Missouri lieutenant governor who lost two U.S. Senate bids.
Women candidates also will benefit from what Woods terms ”political homelessness.”
”Voters are saying, `We don`t belong anywhere politically` and are asking `Who made these terrible decisions? Let`s find somebody else.` And women are seen as outsiders, right or wrong. So any woman candidate, even somebody who has held public office, is seen as someone liable to bring about change.”
The Center for the American Woman and Politics, Rutgers University, reports:
– Women hold 28, or 6.4 percent, of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives. (Democrat Eleanor Holmes Norton is the non-voting delegate to the House from Washington, D.C.)
– Three women Democrats are governors, elected in 1990: Joan Finney of Kansas, Barbara Roberts of Oregon and Texas` Richards.
– Women are lieutenant governors in seven states: Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Connecticut, Nebraska, Louisiana and Nevada.
– 1,374, or 18.4 percent, of the 7,461 legislators are women holding 299 state Senate seats and 1,075 state house seats.
