Carol Moseley Braun has a resume that is more impressive than most of the candidates including experience as a federal prosecutor, state legislator, Senator (albeit a controversial one), and Ambassador. She had endorsement of NOW, was impressive in debates, a natural constituency given that black women make up about 13% of Democratic Party, yet Carol could raise no money and dropped out before a single vote was cast.
Liddy Dole dropped out of the GOP 2000 race before a vote was cast despite having high name recognition and impressive experience.
Pat Schroeder publicly considered a run in 1988 and tearfully decides against competing.
No women running in the Democratic primaries since Cong. Shirley Chisolm competed up through the convention in 1972.
No women in GOP primaries since Sen. Margaret Chase Smith in 1950's.
Why are women candidates so scarce in U.S. Presidential races ? Is it the national security issue ? If so, there have been some pretty hawkish women like Jeanne Kirkpatrick who should have put to rest that women can't be tough militarily. And internationally, Margaret Thatcher is more bellicose than any man on either side of the pond. Is it that the women candidates are less likely to have the wherewithal for all the travails of a long campaign ? My observation is that women candidates are marginalized by the media and are held to a higher standard, especially when one considers the backgrounds of some lesser male candidates who have trodded through the primaries with greater respect and more favorable coverage from the media.
I'd be interested in hearing some opinions.