George,
My vote is for Nancy Pelosi, a long-time friend of women's rights and the feminist movement. This move could give a considerable boost to women’s rights interests. If elected by the House Democratic caucus, Pelosi would become the first woman and the first Californian to serve as the leader of either party. In October 2001, Pelosi became the highest-ranking woman in the history of the House when she was elected Democratic Whip. She also became the first Italian-American to hold the post. Pelosi remains staunchly pro-choice and has a strong women’s rights voting record. Her focus in the House has been on international family planning, AIDS prevention, human rights in China, and environmental causes. She is also the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. Pelosi, who hails from San Francisco, represents the 8th Congressional District in California where she has been active in politics since the 1970s.

Jenny Robinson (electronic mail, November 8, 2002)