At a fund-raiser Friday (3-15), EMILY’s List and the Democratic Party launched a multi-million dollar campaign to increase voting among women. According to Democratic National Committee chair Donald Fowler, “Women are key to Democratic Victory in 1996.” EMILY’s List, a political fundraising group for pro-choice Democratic women candidates announced it will spend $10 million through the year 2000 to encourage women to vote. According to president Ellen Malcolm, women staying away from the polls in 1994 helped Republicans win a congressional majority; that experience inspired the project Women Vote! The Democratic Party has not yet disclosed its similar financial commitment, but acknowledges the campaign will include publicity and phone work.
On a related subject, The Women’s Campaign School at Yale University is boasting an 80 percent success rate. Founded three years ago, the school teaches women how to get elected to public office through its annual four and a half day training program in June and other workshops throughout the year. According to a Reuters report, Geraldine Ferraro will deliver the opening address at this year’s training.
