Uminski agrees that women come to campagins with financial disadvantages. "Women make 60 cents to every dollar a man makes," she says. Therefore, she says, they have less disposable income to donate to political candidates.

In addition, Kaminer's article lists a host of stereotypes that may work against women in their bids for office: they lack the experience to manage foreign affairs, the aptitude to lead the military and the reliability to handle fiscal matter.

But for every drawback, it seems, some feminine quality makes them appear better suited for office. And the mere fact that women are women--and aren't white males--may be enough to tip the balance.

In a year when widespread desire for change nearly lead to a three-way Presidential race. Different is often desirable. Uminski says she expected her youth and her gender to be liabilities--but has found them to be among her greatest assets.

Uminski believes women have appeal "just because we're not a part of the political establishment...people are so tired of all of the same and more of the same."

At last week's convention, Democratic leaders, promoting a renewed mission for their party, tried to capitalize on the widespread desire for change.

All last week, the Democratic Party tried to present itself as a party of women and for women. Hillary R. Clinton's chocolate-chip and oatmeal cookies, distributed to delegates and journalists in Madison Square Garden, were only part of that effort. More important was the pro-choice, pro-woman rhetoric that inundated the convention. More important was the parade of women Senatorial and Congressional candidates that went before the assembled delegates and journalists.

The emphasis on women, according to Democratic National Committee chair Ronald H. Brown, is in some ways a part of the political game.

"Women are the majority of voters in America," Brown said at the convention last Monday. There are major differences between Democrats and Republicans on child care, choice and parental leave, he said. "We're on the right side of the issues...we're going to highlight these issues."

Beyond this year's election, Democratic leaders last week said they see a pattern of ascendance for women in politics.

"I believe that women will be a majority of those elected this year to the United States Senate and I also believe that women will someday be a majority of the United States Senate," said Senator Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass.)

Former Texas Representative Barbara Jordan noted a trend toward a day when the party would nominate "Madame President."

This year may be the one to bring women into the government in larger numbers than before. But numbers, Wilson says, are only part of the battle. New women officeholders "will be inexperienced, relatively speaking and have to earn their stripes."

It will take years before they gain seniority, become chairs of important committees and shed some of the negative stereotypes traditionally attached to women politicians.

"Changes come about by increments," Wilson says, "not by great huge leaps."

But today's small changes could have a giant effect on the young generation of women voters--students and recent graduates who, current leaders predict, will someday find greater opportunity for their own political advancement.

Ira E. Stoll contributed to the reporting of this article while covering the Democratic Convention in New York.