Women push to the fore in US primaries

ONCE, California Democrats led the way to a year of the women. Now, nearly two decades later, Republicans hope that it’s their turn.

Former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman has won the party’s nomination for California governor, while ex-Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina will compete for a seat on the Senate, a pair of wealthy businesswomen and first-timers up against veteran politicians.

In next-door Nevada, a third woman contender, Sharron Angle, won the right to oppose Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the autumn.