politics

Democrats Want a Woman on the 2016 Ticket

Photo: Corbis

Democratic strategists will not let Hillary Clinton or her blood clot stop them from getting a woman on the 2016 presidential ticket, Politico reports. Even if Clinton sticks to her word and does not run for president — something no one seemed to believe until her recent health scare — activists are still hoping to leverage the 2012 gender gap into a female nominee. “After the roles Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin played in the 2008 campaign,” Politico writes, “it would be hard for many to accept another cycle like the 2012 presidential race, which featured two all-male national tickets.”

Especially when one notes how many strong female contenders there have been in the Republican party, like South Carolina’s Nikki Haley, New Hampshire’s Kelley Ayotte, and former VP nominee Sarah Palin. The head of the Center or American Progress, Neera Tanden, told Politico:

“It’s critical that we have a woman on the ticket in some form or fashion. Given that the Republican Party has produced a woman VP candidate, I think it’s important that we ensure that the Democratic Party continues to lead.”

(Have we forgotten Geraldine Ferraro — to say nothing of the women of the Green and Socialist Workers Parties — so soon?)

But after Clinton, EMILY’s List president Stephanie Schriock admits, there’s “kind of a gap” before the next Democratic women in line, New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, and just-sworn-in Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Luckily, there’s plenty of time between now and 2016 for the women to sponsor some big legislation and publish some memoirs. Or whatever one does to become presidential-ticket-worthy.

Dems Want a Woman on the 2016 Ticket