Timeline for Elections First

SOME ELECTION "FIRSTS JACK KENNEDY's O THE GLORY ROA 1866 1916 1960 1966 1972 1984 1988 1990 1992 2000 2007 ELIZABETH CADY STANTON JEANNETTE RANKIN EDWARD BROOKE SHIRLEY CHISHOLM JESSE L. JACKSON In his second run JOHN F. KENNEDY GERALDINE FERRARO L. DOUOLAS WILDER CAROL MOSELEY JOSEPH LIEBERMAN NANCY PELOSI The Republican The Democratic A Rapublican from The Democratic The Democratic Virginia voters BRAUN The Democratk The California Women weren't even Congresswoman from Senator from Massachusetts, Brooke Congresswoman Congresswoman from made Wilder, a An Mlinois Democrat, Senator from Democrat is the first Nilewad to voke when Massachusetts dafeatad Rikhard M. Montana was the was the first black from Brooktyn, N.Y. Queens, NY, was the presidential Democrat, America's Moseley Braun was Connecticut was the woman to serve as Stanton became first woman elected elected to the Senate was the first lack to first woman to run for nomination, Jackson first elected black the first black woman first Jew to run for Soeaker of the House. to either house of Congress. won 11 primarie. elocted to the Senate. Vice President on a major-party ticket. the first woman to Nixon and became the first, and only, Roman by popular vote, and seek the presidential Vice President on a Governor, and the run for the House of the first black Senator nomination of a major-party ticket. first black Governor Representatives. Catholic President. since Reconstruction. major party. since Reconstruction. war. Clinton sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, *Women are 51 percent of the population," she adds. and was a supporter, at least early on, of the war in Iraq. Obama says that many black voters have serious questions Many analysts suggest that changing attitudes can best be about whether America is ready to elect a black President. church and state is absolute," he said, "where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches, or United States. Whether it's conscious or not, it's true. particularly when it comes to the presidency. Obama's lack of experience may be far more of an issue than his color. He is 45 and in only his second year as a Senator. Blacks make up about 13 percent. Clinton faces other issues. She is something of a polarizing any other ecclesiastical source." figure, with devoted supporters, but a significant number of voters tell pollsters they would never vote for her. "Clinton with several Mormons (including Romney's father, George, fatigne" may also be a factor. For some voters, two terms of Bill may have been enough of Clintons in the Oval Office. measured in choices for Govemors since, like Presidents, "I think there is a protectiveness and a skepticism within Since 1960, several Catholics have run for President, along they are judged as chief executives. There is currently the African-American community that is grounded in their one black Governor-Deval experiences," says Obama. "But the skepticism doesn't the Govermor of Michigan, in 1968). While Mormons con- sider themselves Christians, some Christians do not accept L. Patrick of Massachusetts, the second in the nation since mean there's a lack of sup- them as such and view the Mormoon Church, which is based port." Obama is in many ways an Reconstruction. RELIGIOUS ISSUES? in Salt Lake City, Utah, with suspicion By contrast, women are Govemors of ninestates, includ Religion has been an issue in the past. Romney, a Momon (a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Mexico's Governor in November with a record 69 percent founded in 1830 by Joseph ;.............. Smith), may face questions Bill Richardson, who was elected to a second term as New unusual black politician, and that is why many Democrats, ing Washington, Arizona, and Michigan. Governor Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan, CONDOLEEZZA RICE & COLIN POWELL Secretary of State as well as Republicans, view him as so viable a candidate. He is from the post-civil- rights generation of black of the vote, is optimistic about Americans' open- IS AMERICA READY... mindedness. about his faith, just as John E Kennedy the nation's first kat meenandents wha anewernd YES Sat respondents wha answered NO who won a second term in In an interview on ABC's Rice and former ... for a BLACK President? November, says that when she first ran, she had to work hard- er. "Not this time," she says. *They are used to a woman Secretary of State and only Roman Catholic This Week, he said: "I believe Powell have both CNN leaders and not identified with President-did in 1960. this country is a very tolerant, been mentioned as ALL 62% 34% more polarizing politicians like Jackson and the Reverend Al Sharpton of New York. Democratic strategist Donna positive country. I believe the country would be ready for a woman President, an Many Americans feared that a Catholic President might be potential Republican 65 31 54 42 WHITES candidates for President. influenced by Church poli- cies, or consult the Pope when being Governor." Of course, Governors don't have to handle national security, And Hlillary Clinton has used her six years in the BLACKS African American President, ... for a WOMAN President? making cnucial decisions. Kennedy tried to address Brazile says she has been del- uged with e-mails from peo ple kooking to volunteer for Obama, mostly from whites. While race and gender may be issues in American polities, Hispanic President. "But I wouldn't run as a Hispanic candidate," Richardson added. "I would CNN ALL 60 37 those fears in 1960 in a Senate to try to counter the stereolype that women would speech to Baptist ministers in Houston. ... for a MORMON President? GALLUP 29 44 run as an American, proud to be Hispanic, proud of my heritage." o ALL 66 not be as strong on the issue, especially with the nation at *I believe in an America where the separation of SOUPCE E A roK TMES they are not the only ones. Che Netw Jork Elmes UPPRONT UPFRONTMAGAZINE.COM FEBRUARY 19, 2007 12 13