Gore and Feinstein in 2000? Not Likely

Al Gore has a woman problem. No, not that kind.

The vice president is militantly married, a steady family man and grandpa-to-be who has proved--in striking contrast to the prowling president--as popular with women voters as the Nice Young Man mother says they should have married.

So Al Gore’s campaign has been reaching out to women, using every opportunity to portray the VP as militantly married, a steady family man and grandpa-to-be, who also happens to be feminist hero Hillary Rodham Clinton’s No. 1 pick to succeed her straying spouse.

But one thing steady Al Gore will never do is allow that he ever, ever takes for granted winning the Democratic nomination. And so during a recent campaign stop the urge to pander was overtaken by the need for prudence.

At a house party in New Hampshire, a supporter wanted to know whether the vice president would consider tapping a woman to be his own No. 2. It was less a question than a suggestion, but Gore passed. “I’m all for it,” he said. “But it’s premature for making any kind of lists.”

There is, however, one name that seems fairly safe to cross off: California’s own Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

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There are few legal requirements for the job of vice president. The Constitution says that he or she must be a “natural-born” U.S. citizen (though no court has ever legally defined what that means--cloning, presumably, could present a problem).

The vice president must be at least 35 years old and must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years. And that’s it.

Except, of course, for the political specifications.

Presidential candidates have tended to seek running mates who offer some sort of “balance” to the ticket, either geographic or demographic. Ideally, a running mate can help deliver an important state, the way Lyndon Johnson helped Massachusetts’ John F. Kennedy carry Texas in 1960.

Precious few voters, however, cast their presidential ballots on the basis of the ticket’s No. 2 slot. Hence the guiding principle of the VP selection is the same as the physician’s dictum: First, do no harm.

“Obviously, you look for someone qualified” to serve as president should the Big Guy (or Gal) die in office, said Ken Khachigian, a GOP veteran of two presidential administrations. “Then you look for someone who’s not going to make mistakes, not be controversial, somebody who’s not going to attract that kind of attention.”

In other words, Alben Barkley, yes. Dan Quayle, no.

Dianne Feinstein? Problematic.

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Feinstein once dreamed of being the first woman president. She nearly made history as the first woman on a presidential ticket.

In 1984, she briefly topped the proverbial “short list” of running mates considered by Democratic nominee Walter Mondale. Eventually, Mondale picked New York Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, a favorite of political insiders, chief among them House Speaker Tip O’Neill. Back then, a thrice-married Jewish woman was judged too risky for the national ticket.

But lately Feinstein has emerged as another sort of inside favorite, the choice of many Beltway chat show regulars and others who tend to spend more time blathering than thinking about what they say.

Ferraro proved a huge burden on the Democratic ticket, thanks to the controversial business dealings of her husband, John Zaccaro. That experience leaves many Democrats wary of Feinstein--privately, at least--given husband Richard Blum’s extensive business ties to China, the GOP’s favorite foreign menace and political hobgoblin.

Citing the Asian fund-raising and China spy scandals, Khachigian suggested that Feinstein’s presence on the Democratic ticket “could take things in a direction they wouldn’t be happy about.” To put it mildly.

Moreover, Feinstein would be little help in the all-important electoral college. (Something that applies whether the nominee is Gore or ex-New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, the Democratic underdog.) “California--and for that matter the rest of the West Coast--should be a Democratic bastion,” observed one party strategist. “If [the nominee] needs Dianne’s help to carry California, then they’re in pretty pathetic shape.”

There is also the matter of personal chemistry, or lack thereof. Feinstein and Gore have never enjoyed particularly warm relations. “Difficult” was the word one White House insider used, reflecting the administration-wide view of Madame Senator as something less than a steady ally. (For her part, Feinstein is cordial with the vice president, but don’t expect an endorsement any time soon.)

If Gore hopes to win favor with women voters by tapping a woman running mate--or, at least, weighing the option--the names being floated at this early stage are New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen and Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, both active Gore supporters.

“Gore wants a Gore,” said one associate of the vice president. “Someone who’ll be loyal, supportive and low maintenance.”

The strong-willed Feinstein is no Al Gore. Or Alben Barkley, for that matter. (He was Harry Truman’s “fade into the woodwork” vice president.)

Chances are a safely reelected Feinstein will be back in the U.S. Senate come January 2001, giving fits to the next president, whoever that turns out to be, Republican or Democrat.