Daughter Elizabeth was born just two days before she was elected lieutenant governor. Early in her term, she made some poor decisions that raise fair questions now about her ability to juggle work and home. A state ethics panel rightly fined her for using aides as baby sitters and criticized her for flying home in a state helicopter when Elizabeth was sick. Now she's got the top job, thanks to Mr. Cellucci's appointment as ambassador to Canada. But she starts out with a meager 25 percent approval rating.
Supporters point to a double standard.
Gov. John Engler of Michigan didn't face skepticism about job performance after his wife gave birth to triplets. Nor, when he was out doing his job, did he face criticism for not being home doing his job as a parent. It was accepted that his wife, Michelle, was staying at home for the children. Gov. Engler didn't actually have to give birth, with its physical toll and possible complications. Also, he didn't have to counter piles of research that say children under the age of 3 benefit from close and constant contact with their mothers.