Her Presidential Choice Is Barbie Q. Doll

I enjoyed the piece about Barbie running for President, “Candidate’s Been Groomed 33 Years” (July 16). I’ve been a Barbie fan since 1959, and own two original dolls from that era.

I do, however, disagree with the charge that Barbie is not old enough to run for President. Barbie was “issued” (as The Times put it), not “born,” in 1959.

At the date of “issuance,” Barbie was touted as a “teen-age fashion model.” I was led to believe that Barbie was 16 years old in 1959, so she would be 49 years old today--old enough to run for office.

In fact, I think she looks totally terrific for her age. Plastic really does make a difference.

Now that Ross Perot is out of the race, Bush’s popularity is diminishing and Clinton’s integrity remains in question, I’ll cast my vote for Barbie Q. Doll. It is, after all, the “Year of the Woman” (plastic or not).

ELLEN BLOOM UNDERHILL

Los Angeles