Reply #99: The lesson about personality from JFK vs Nixon [View All]

Is that personality did make the difference in the end. The race was very very close, and most thought JFK was behind until the televised debate. It's very likely that JFK's charisma, looks AND personality, is what pushed him over the top. I think if they had been running today, with the dominance of TV as THE medium whereby most people get their information, JFK would have been kicking Nixon's butt a lot earlier... except that Nixon would have hired media professionals to make himself look a lot better -- he did in 1968 and it made a difference.

None of that is to say that competence and issues aren't more important to the majority of voters. I honestly don't know whether that's true or not. Some days I'm more optimistic than others. But in a close race (and the way the electorate is divided on issues, I doubt we'll have many races that aren't close), personality can make the difference. At least so long as the perception of some acceptable level of competence is there too.

I do agree with Frenchie that a perception of competence also involves competence in the issues that are most important to voters at any given time. Papa Bush was perceived as incompetent (or maybe "out of touch" is a better way to put it) on economic issues. That mattered in 1992, and Bill Clinton won on it. I don't think it would be enough today, and I doubt it will be enough in 2008.