If Only They'd Ask: Gender, Recruitment, and Political Ambition.

Based on data from the second wave of the Citizen Political Ambition Panel Study - our national survey of almost 2,100 "potential candidates" in 2008 - we provide the first thorough analysis of the manner in which gender interacts with political recruitment, from the potential candidates' point of view. Our findings are striking. Highly qualified and accomplished women from both major political parties are substantially less likely than similarly situated men to be recruited to run for public office by all types of political actors. They are less likely than men to be recruited intensely. And they are less likely than men to be recruited by multiple sources. Although our data suggest that women's organizations are succeeding in their efforts to reduce the recruitment gap, widespread gender differences in political recruitment will persist for the foreseeable future. These findings are of critical importance because women's recruitment disadvantage depresses their political ambition and ultimately hinders their emergence as candidates. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]