<P> In all, Ferraro served three two - year terms, being re-elected in 1980 and 1982 . Her vote shares increased to 58 percent and then 73 percent and much of her funding came from political action committees . While Ferraro's pro-choice views conflicted with those of many of her constituents as well as the Catholic Church to which she belonged, her positions on other social and foreign policy issues were in alignment with the district . She broke with her party in favoring an anti-busing amendment to the Constitution . She supported deployment of the Pershing II missile and the Trident submarine, although she opposed funding for the MX missile, the B - 1B bomber, and the Strategic Defense Initiative . </P> <P> While in the House, Ferraro's political self - description evolved to "moderate". In 1982, she said her experiences as assistant district attorney had changed some of her views: "...because no matter how concerned I am about spending, I have seen first hand what poverty can do to people's lives and I just can't, in good conscience, not do something about it ." For her six years in Congress, Ferraro had an average 78 percent "Liberal Quotient" from Americans for Democratic Action and an average 8 percent rating from the American Conservative Union . The AFL - CIO's Committee on Political Education gave her an average approval rating of 91 percent . </P> <P> As the 1984 U.S. presidential election primary season neared its end and Walter Mondale became the likely Democratic nominee, the idea of picking a woman as his vice-presidential running mate gained considerable momentum . The National Organization for Women and the National Women's Political Caucus pushed the notion, as did several top Democratic figures such as Speaker Tip O'Neill . Women mentioned for the role included Ferraro and Mayor of San Francisco Dianne Feinstein, both of whom were on Mondale's five - person short list . </P> <P> Mondale selected Ferraro to be his Vice-Presidential candidate on July 12, 1984 . She stated, "I am absolutely thrilled ." The Mondale campaign hoped that her selection would change a campaign in which he was well behind; in addition to attracting women, they hoped she could attract ethnic Democrats in the Northeast U.S. who had abandoned their party for Reagan in 1980 . Her personality, variously described as blunt, feisty, spirited, and somewhat saucy, was also viewed as an asset . In turn, Mondale accepted the risk that came with her inexperience . </P>

Which woman ran for vice president on her husbands ticket