alternatehistory.com

In 1984, former Vice President Walter Mondale selected New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate to energize the base, win the votes of women, and because of his view of her as a solid legislator. Ferraro was (fairly or unfairly) viewed as inexperienced, smug, arrogant, overly-sensitive, and defensive during the Vice Presidential Debate. I can’t determine whether Mondale’s selection of Ferraro is what cost him the election or his ties with the Carter administration. But if Mondale’s selection of Ferraro is what cost him the election, who would have given him a better fighting chance against Reagan? (And yes, I understand the selection of a vice presidential nominee only minimally affects the outcome of the election. I just find the idea of the running mate fascinating because of the idea of having a partner who complements one or more of the presidential nominee’s weaknesses and the concept of the presidential-hopeful “choosing their successor”.) According to Bernard Weinraub’s article published in 1984, Mondale was considering as alternates to Ferraro: former rival Colorado Senator Gary Hart, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, and San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein.
Top