Ms. Heinz Kerry Is A New Flavor Of Election Mate

"It speaks well of John Kerry that he married Teresa—it means he’s not intimidated by other people’s intelligence," said 28-year-old Anna Wahrman, the copy chief at Stuff magazine. "As opposed to a certain lying imbecile who needs his wife to be seen and not heard."

"Teresa seems to have a genuine curiosity about the world," said Deborah Orr, a 35-year-old music publicist. "That’s in complete contrast to the sort of suspicion with which the current administration views so many other nations. Or New Yorkers who don’t for a minute believe that the war in Iraq, or domestic anti-terrorism money distributed pork-barrel style, is really and truly all for the sake of our safety."

For those who feel hopelessly trapped by this administration, Ms. Heinz Kerry seems like the only one ballsy enough to take things in a whole new direction. A Hillary wouldn’t be enough. Many women expressed admiration for Mrs. Clinton but qualified it: They felt somehow put off by her stridency, her lack of warmth, and felt a little apologetic about not being able to relate fully to someone who, in theory, they should hold in high regard. They also felt sorry for Mrs. Clinton—for the fact that she has had to compromise so much to get to where she is, that she’s had to muffle her feminism and highlight her hair. Unlike Hillary Clinton, Ms. Heinz Kerry, who claims she has no political aspirations of her own, can afford to shake things up in a way that most female leaders have not and can not.

"She’s out there looking like herself, talking about what interests her, talking about what has been an interesting and unpredictable life," said Democratic political consultant Jen Bluestein. "And you think, ‘Well, thank you!’ It’s like watching TV and flipping through 65 channels of banal made-for-TV movies and finally finding The African Queen on."

Women seem nostalgic for stars who had guts, style and sex appeal, wisecracks spilling out of their mouths like ticker tape—weathering as we are the storm of plastic blonde skanks and ditzes like Paris, Jessica and Britney.

"When women speak, especially in politics, they have to disarm, to charm," Ms. DiBattista said. "We’re missing the element of directness. And so I think that there’s a secret need and real hunger for women who are direct." Ms. Heinz Kerry may serve as some small reprieve from all the Stepford Wivery that is exacted from female politicians and the female relations of politicians—and from the women of our current administration specifically. Laura Bush took pains in her R.N.C. speech to invoke the living room and dining room, making it clear that her influence went no further than that. Mrs. Bush could only mention women’s rights in the context of an Afghan Olympian finally being able to wear pants to compete in the Games.
Ms. Heinz Kerry Is A New Flavor Of Election Mate: "