Carol Gelsey

Carol Gelsey (D-FL) was a six-term Democratic congresswoman from Florida as of November 2006. She was number two on Matt Santos's shortlist for the vice presidency following the death of Leo McGarry. Amy Gardner lobbied for Santos to nominate her over his eventual choice, Governor Eric Baker of Pennsylvania. Gelsey had served on the influential House Ways and Means Committee since before Matt Santos entered Congress, was respected on both sides of the aisle, and Josh Lyman described her as a Democratic "presence" in the Florida with "bipartisan support in her district". She had 63% favorability in statewide polls. However, she lost a 1996 gubernatorial bid to Robert Ritchie and was felt by Josh Lyman to lack Baker's executive experience.