The New York Times carried an article this week, titled “Who Is Running for President (and Who’s Not)?”
And among the six Republicans and two Democrats that it mentions, as ‘definitely running’ for their parties’ 2016 US presidential nomination, are two women.
Only two. But that could be a record in itself.
Hillary Clinton the Democrat, and Carly Fiorina the Republican, will now be vying for a nomination as presidential candidate, from within their respective parties.
But of course they must, first, battle it out with mighty men inside, in order to win their party’s favour and nomination.
Hillary Clinton, we have seen, was unable to win her party’s ticket for Presidency in 2008, losing to her party colleague Obama. But she is now bravely going at it again.
Her legal background, and her role as the former Secretary of State could play in her favour, but Obama’s questionable policies and controversial performance could work against the whole Democratic party itself.
Eight years ago, when I briefly taught a management course, for a Canadian distance education university, I used to give as example, the leadership style of the then world’s highest paid female business executive.
She had become well-known for a huge HP-Compaq merger, during a time when PC and printer industries were riding on the crests. Her name? Carly Fiorina.
During her tenure as CEO of Hewlett Packard, from 1999 to early 2005, HP's revenue nearly doubled, rising to $87 billion, from $44 billion.
Of course, it may be the HP-Compaq merger that made the numbers grow, and not necessarily her skill. But she should be credited for brokering the deal.
The deal was aimed at beating IBM, then the world’s largest PC maker. And then, predictably, IBM saw where its business was going, and sold its PC division in 2004 to Lenovo. And focused on its more lucrative services and consulting units. But that’s another story.
Now, Carly Fiorina is saying, “I think I’m the best person for the job because I understand how the economy actually works.” Maybe, her confidence reflects her 'learnings' from life.
But will the major parties think it is finally time for a woman to become their nominee for Presidency? That is the big question now.
No woman has ever won the nomination of ‘a major party’ in the history of U.S. presidential elections.
I remember, in 1984, how the world went gaga over Geraldine Ferraro becoming the first female vice presidential candidate ever to represent a major US political party.
A woman wanting to be, even, a Vice President of USA was unthinkable then.
Much water has flown under the bridge in the last 30 years, since Geraldine Ferraro and her running mate, the presidential candidate Walter Mondale, had lost the elections to Ronald Reagan and George H W Bush.
But did any other woman become a Vice Presidential nominee, from either of the two major parties, since then? No.
Did any woman become a major party’s Presidential Nominee? No.
We must acknowledge, however, that in 1872, Victoria Woodhull becoming the first female candidate for President of the United States.
But her People's (Equal Rights) Party was not a major party, and as she did not get enough votes. And she is hardly recognized, even though she was the first woman to open a bank on Wall Street.
Now, it would be a extremely shocking and very interesting if both women become their respective party’s nominees. And make it clear for us that 2016 will see a female as POTUS.
And among the six Republicans and two Democrats that it mentions, as ‘definitely running’ for their parties’ 2016 US presidential nomination, are two women.
Only two. But that could be a record in itself.
Hillary Clinton the Democrat, and Carly Fiorina the Republican, will now be vying for a nomination as presidential candidate, from within their respective parties.
But of course they must, first, battle it out with mighty men inside, in order to win their party’s favour and nomination.
Hillary Clinton, we have seen, was unable to win her party’s ticket for Presidency in 2008, losing to her party colleague Obama. But she is now bravely going at it again.
Her legal background, and her role as the former Secretary of State could play in her favour, but Obama’s questionable policies and controversial performance could work against the whole Democratic party itself.
Eight years ago, when I briefly taught a management course, for a Canadian distance education university, I used to give as example, the leadership style of the then world’s highest paid female business executive.
She had become well-known for a huge HP-Compaq merger, during a time when PC and printer industries were riding on the crests. Her name? Carly Fiorina.
During her tenure as CEO of Hewlett Packard, from 1999 to early 2005, HP's revenue nearly doubled, rising to $87 billion, from $44 billion.
Of course, it may be the HP-Compaq merger that made the numbers grow, and not necessarily her skill. But she should be credited for brokering the deal.
The deal was aimed at beating IBM, then the world’s largest PC maker. And then, predictably, IBM saw where its business was going, and sold its PC division in 2004 to Lenovo. And focused on its more lucrative services and consulting units. But that’s another story.
Now, Carly Fiorina is saying, “I think I’m the best person for the job because I understand how the economy actually works.” Maybe, her confidence reflects her 'learnings' from life.
But will the major parties think it is finally time for a woman to become their nominee for Presidency? That is the big question now.
No woman has ever won the nomination of ‘a major party’ in the history of U.S. presidential elections.
I remember, in 1984, how the world went gaga over Geraldine Ferraro becoming the first female vice presidential candidate ever to represent a major US political party.
A woman wanting to be, even, a Vice President of USA was unthinkable then.
Much water has flown under the bridge in the last 30 years, since Geraldine Ferraro and her running mate, the presidential candidate Walter Mondale, had lost the elections to Ronald Reagan and George H W Bush.
But did any other woman become a Vice Presidential nominee, from either of the two major parties, since then? No.
Did any woman become a major party’s Presidential Nominee? No.
We must acknowledge, however, that in 1872, Victoria Woodhull becoming the first female candidate for President of the United States.
But her People's (Equal Rights) Party was not a major party, and as she did not get enough votes. And she is hardly recognized, even though she was the first woman to open a bank on Wall Street.
Now, it would be a extremely shocking and very interesting if both women become their respective party’s nominees. And make it clear for us that 2016 will see a female as POTUS.
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