 The announcement dominated television and newspapers ; Ferraro was besieged by questions regarding the finances as well as criticism for ethnic stereotyping . As she later wrote , " I had created a monster . " Republicans saw her finances as a " genderless " issue that they could attack Ferraro with without creating a backlash , and some Mondale staffers thought Ferraro might have to leave the ticket . The Philadelphia Inquirer went even further in its investigations , seeking to link Zaccaro to organized crime figures , but most publishers avoided this topic and law enforcement officials did not treat the allegations with much seriousness . A week after her previous statement , Ferraro said Zaccaro had changed his mind and would indeed release his tax records , which was done on August 20 . The full statements included notice of payment of some $ 53 @,@ 000 in back federal taxes that she owed due to what was described as an accountant 's error . Ferraro said the statements proved overall that she had nothing to hide and that there had been no financial wrongdoing . The disclosures indicated that Ferraro and her husband were worth nearly $ 4 million , had a full @-@ time maid , and owned a boat and the two vacation homes . Much of their wealth was tied up in real estate rather than being disposable income , but the disclosures hurt Ferraro 's image as a rags @-@ to @-@ riches story . 
