GOP's new role models

National | Will Whitman and Molinari typify the Republican future? | Joe Maxwell

Not much separates New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman from New York Rep. Susan Molinari except the Hudson River. Both women hail from well-heeled, highly connected northeastern Republican families that couple fiscal moderation with liberal views on social issues. Both are on the Republican fast track; conventional politicians who worry about whether Republicans can appeal to women head their way. Both receive high praise from Bob Dole.

Mr. Dole's fixation on the gender gap, that gap between how men and women think about Republicans, led him to select Gov. Whitman as one of the two temporary chairmen of San Diego's Republican National Convention, and her 38-year-old neighbor, Rep. Molinari, to give his highly symbolic keynote address at the convention. Mr. Dole was so eager to announce his selection of the perky Molinari on national TV that he surprised both her and his staff by blurting out the news on the Larry King show. He said of Ms. Molinari, "She's dynamic, she's young, she's bright...."