GOP fielding female, minority candidates

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- The Republican Party has a bumper crop of female, minority and young candidates for offices across the United States, Politico reported Saturday.

Criticized for losing female, minority and youthful voters in two successive elections because of a lack of diversity and narrow demographic appeal, the GOP could be poised for an image rehabilitation among those groups by fielding female gubernatorial candidates in California and Texas, a black senatorial candidate in the latter state, a Hispanic female gubernatorial candidate in New Mexico and a young Colorado candidate for governor, Politico said.

"When people start thinking about parties and they see who people put on tickets nationwide, that is what really impacts people's perceptions of a party," an unnamed GOP operative told the Washington publication. "When you're thinking about how the GOP is going to grow its base, it's when you really put forward a field of 37 candidates that represent America."

But, Politico said, even if the GOP ultimately fields a diverse array of candidates, it doesn't necessarily mean its public image will be burnished. The party in 2006 fielded credible black gubernatorial candidates such as Ken Blackwell of Ohio and Lynn Swann of Pennsylvania who both lost by wide margins.