In the wake of President Barack Obama’s rousing victory among women in November many Democratic activists and women’s groups want to guarantee that the party has a strong female presidential candidate next time around.
Exit polls showed Obama captured the women’s vote 55 to 44 percent.
“It’s critical that we have a woman on the ticket in some form or fashion,” Neera Tanden, who heads the liberal Center for American Progress, told
Politico. “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.”
Tanden and many others hope that female candidate will be Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She has soared in public popularity, scoring approval ratings above 65 percent. A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 57 percent of Americans would support Clinton for president in 2016, compared to 37 who wouldn’t.
Clinton has said she has no interest in running, but many believe she’s open to the idea.
Other Democratic women who are seen as possibilities include Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. Many liberals tout rookie Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, but she has strongly ruled out a bid given her lack of experience.
Democrats also talk about their female attorneys general in California, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Illinois, in addition to Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo, Politico reports.
Among Republicans, the potential female candidates include Govs. Susana Martinez of New Mexico, Nikki Haley of South Carolina, and Sen. Kelley Ayotte of New Hampshire.
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