A fascinating article by Nate Silver about the potential female candidates for Vice President with Mitt Romney.
Is it ironic that most of them are disqualified because they generally support abortions (“mildly pro-choice”).
If Mr. Romney wanted to pick a woman this year, whom might he choose?
Actually, Mr. Romney has a bit of a problem. The Republican women with the most traditional qualifications for the vice presidency tend to be moderates, especially on abortion choice, probably making them unacceptable to the Republican base. Another group of up-and-coming female governors and senators may not be adequately seasoned for the rigors of the campaign trail. The few exceptions are probably too old, or too controversial, to be smart choices with swing voters. It has nothing to do with their gender, but any of the women that Mr. Romney might choose would be at least a little risky.
Let’s start by drawing up a “long list” of potential candidates. The qualifications for this are pretty straightforward. You have to be a woman, and a Republican. And you have to have served as governor or U.S. senator in the past five years, or as an alternative, have run for president before.
There are 14 women that meet these criteria…The first five women on this list have generally supported abortion choice — some mostly so, and some more emphatically.
Keep reading: N.Y. Times – In Search for Female Running Mate, a Shortlist for Romney
