Looking Out for No. 2

Gender, geography and politics will figure in the Veep selection

If Walter Mondale is indeed nominated, he may do as Ronald Reagan did in 1980, and reach out to his vanquished opponent. Gary Hart might help with young, upscale voters, and his presence on the ticket would provide a neat, superficial image of Democratic solidarity. On the other hand, Mondale could pick a woman. New York Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro or San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein (see TIME, June 4) would provide a major-party ticket with gender balance for the first time, in one stroke countering Mondale's reputation for timidity and, perhaps, galvanizing women to vote Democratic. Or he may take the standard approach and pick an uncontentious male who would offer simple geographical and ideological counterweight. In any event, Mondale said last week, the choice is "the most important single act by a presidential candidate." He assigned a senior adviser, John R. Reilly, to check out possible running mates, a process that will probably last until the convention.

Hart is a Westerner with flair, and slightly more to the center than Mondale: in theory, Hart would supply the requisite ticket balance. In reality, however, a Mondale-Hart ticket might amount to less than the sum of its parts. Says Hart: "I'm not sure if that would be a dream ticket." If he accepted the second spot, much of his essentially maverick appeal might be lost, since one of Hart's campaign premises is a rejection of back-room dealing. Campaign Manager Oliver Henkel, a friend for more than 20 years, thinks Hart is temperamentally unsuited for the job. "He'd be absolutely miserable," says Henkel. For his part, Hart insists, "I am not interested in being Vice President."

Among Democrats of every philosophical tint there is some pick-a-woman sentiment. The enthusiasm seems motivated more by wishful political calculation than by feminist feeling. Says Wisconsin Party Chairman Matthew Flynn: "Mondale has only one chance to win this election—if he picks a woman. He has to take a gamble." Ferraro, 48, is the leading female contender. As an Italian American from the East, Ferraro would provide political leavening. Feinstein, 50, the impressive Jewish mayor of a hip city, would help compensate for the nominee's Midwestern squareness.

If Mondale wants geographical balance, he could look south: Florida's moderately conservative Governor Bob Graham, 47, is sometimes mentioned. Mondale's strategists also talk about Chrysler Chairman Lee lacocca, 59, who is nationally celebrated for his corporate grit. But lacocca, ebullient and bossy, probably would not slide easily into a supporting role. Mark White, 44, elected Governor of Texas in 1982, has only a meager track record, but his presence on the ticket could help win his state's 29 electoral votes for the Democrats. If Ohio's 23 electoral votes look pivotal, Mondale might tap Senator John Glenn, 62.