POLITICAL BRIEFING

BY THE NUMBERS: The dual Senate primaries won in California last week by Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer highlighted what has been dubbed “The Year of the Woman” in politics, but the verdict is still out on whether 1992 sets the record for females nominated for Congress’ upper chamber. . . . Senate races in 1984 featured 10 women on the November ballot. So far this year, eight women have won or are virtually assured of their party’s Senate nomination, including one incumbent--Democrat Barbara A. Mikulski of Maryland. The record clearly is within reach: At least six primaries remain in which women are Senate candidates. . . . Regardless of the final nominee count, women’s political groups are hoping for a better bottom line than in the ’84 Senate contests. When the fall votes were counted, the only woman winner was Kansas Republican Nancy Landon Kassebaum, who was running for reelection.