 Mondale selected Ferraro to be his Vice @-@ Presidential candidate on July 12 , 1984 . She stated , " I am absolutely thrilled . " The Mondale campaign hoped that her selection would change a campaign in which he was well behind ; in addition to attracting women , they hoped she could attract ethnic Democrats in the Northeast U.S. who had abandoned their party for Reagan in 1980 . Her personality , variously described as blunt , feisty , spirited , and somewhat saucy , was also viewed as an asset . In turn , Mondale accepted the risk that came with her inexperience . 
