Carly Fiorina

While endlessly waiting in yet another airport on my way to the National Media Reform Conference, I read the article the NYTimes has on the highest profile woman on the McCain campaign -- no, not Cindy -- Carleton Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard executive embarrassingly ousted turned RNC chair of McCain's committee. She's a shameless supporter of McCain's gas holiday and some are whispering, according to the article, of an appointment to be secretary of the treasury.

Weird that the article talks about Fiorina as being "the woman" on the campaign rather than the chair of the campaign. I suspect Fiorina's presence will do little to appeal to women who currently tend to vote Democratic. I have little to say of Fiorina herself except maybe this: high-profile female executives seems to breed more female Republicans.

ELIZABETH EDWARDS, CAMPAIGNER.

This story in yesterday's WaPo about Elizabeth Edwards assailing her husband's rivals was one of many I've seen lately that features her taking an extremely active campaign role, more so than either of the other frontrunner spouses Michelle Obama or Bill Clinton. In fact, though I'm a little young to remember this, Elizabeth Edwards reminds me of the kind of active campaigner that Hillary Clinton was in the early '90s -- taking strong stances on the issues, launching attacks on other candidates, and even representing her husband at events targeted at women voters. Obviously, Elizabeth Edwards isn't running for president. John is. But I seem to recall that this model of campaign team worked very well for the Clintons in the '90s.

--Kay Steiger

Cross-posted at TAPPED.