Way back in 1976, when Bella Abzug...

Way back in 1976, when Bella Abzug was running against four guys in the Democratic primary for U.S. senator from New York, she lumbered into a morning meeting to make a speech. Her hair was a little frazzled; her half-glasses were halfway down her nose. You could tell she was beat.

Her speech was thoughtful, witty and to the point. Her big brown straw hat--remember how she always wore a hat?--was attractive. And her feet were mesmerizing. In open-back pumps with a moderate heel, they were so swollen they were scalloped. Big bulges on top arced to her ankles.

We caught up with her afterward, as she stood waiting for her driver on the hot pavement. She was lifting one foot, then the other, the way a kitten works its paws when it’s nursing. We asked her if her feet hurt.

“All the time,” she said. “Since I’m a politician they started to hurt.”

We discussed, in all seriousness, whether a woman wearing women’s shoes could run for office as effectively as a man. She could hold office as well as a man, but could she run for it? When she couldn’t run for a bus on a level playing field (so to speak)?

In that primary, one guy never stood a chance. And Ramsey Clark and Paul O’Dwyer acted as spoilers. But it was Patrick Moynihan who edged her out, and judging by his hat, his shoes on the campaign trail must have been as comfy as slippers.

Now, 16 years later, there are only two pairs of female feet in the U.S. Senate, compared to 98 pairs of male feet. Now, on this side of the continent, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein are each running against two guys in the Democratic primary. And what do you know--so far, they’ve raised the most dough. But look at the terminology of politics. It’s a race. For an equal crack at political office, maybe women’s consciousness should be lowered: to the toes, not to mention the instep.

We wonder if Carol Tavris discusses this issue in her new book, “The Mismeasure of Women,” and if we go to her book-signing Monday, we intend to ask her. It’s at the Phoenix Bookstore, 1514 5th St., Santa Monica, starting at 7 p.m. It’s free. Further information available at (310) 395-9516.