Likeability will be the death of the Hillary campaign

She's so polarizing and not warm and fuzzy. She's not the kinda woman you could see holding and kissing a baby. Going negative against Obama will do nothing but make her even more unlikeable. The Clinton campaign doesn't realize that when the electorate like a candidate personally, that's more important than experience, issues, etc. That's why Bill Clinton and Bush became president. People liked them personally, even with all the flaws they had. And people like Obama the same way. So whatever dirt or smear they throw on Obama won't do any good cause people LIKE him and WANT to vote for him. That's something that's very hard to overcome in politics.

All the presidents we've had in the modern era, with the exception of Nixon, were either charismatic and/or likeable. Pundits on TV don't like to talk about it cause it's hard to measure in polls, but people vote for someone that they want to see on TV every night. They want to vote for someone that inspires them and makes them believe that better things are on the horizon. Hillary doesn't do any of that. Trying to win by mudslinging and going negative will not give people a reason to vote for her, and that's why she will not win.

Who do they trust to leave the kids with, to throw the house keys and a credit card to in an emergency. That's really about it. It's unique, no other election is quite like it.

I can't remember the actual words but it was Bobdole saying something about about who would you rather have baby sit your kids ..."Bobdole, that's who?" ... Then someone said ... Yeah but Bill Clinton would know the best pizza to order for the kids. Or something like that. I know I didn't take acid in the 90's ... but trust me someone said that!

:silly:

They may have been portrayed as such by the beltway media but I don't believe either one has any endearing qualities whatsoever.

However you are right on the money about Clinton. She is definitely not a likeable person and speeches sound platitudinous and formulaic. She just isn't a warm individual and doesn't project any sincerity at all. Furthermore (and this may not be completely her fault) she appears to possess an air of entitlement. like she deserves this position because of who she is rather than what she will do. Her policy positions are intentionally vague in order to leave maximum weasel room, something Bill Clinton could get away with because of his personality.

I think she's toast.

However I offer my standard disclaimer: should she be the nominee I will support her wholeheartedly and enthusiastically because she is 1000% better than any prospective republican candidate.

But you can bet that was some idiot group of advisers, and not her suggestion.

It was bad judgment on her part to follow that advice, no question about it.

I've met both her and Obama, and while Obama's personal magnetism is incredibly intense,
Hillary is, too, the warm and fuzzy type when the cameras are turned off. The difference
is that Obama knows exactly what to be when the cameras are turned on, and Hillary not so
much so. She'll need better coaching than she has gotten up to now if she wants to make up
for lost ground. At this point, neither she, Edwards, nor Obama are my #1 favorite, and I'll
have to choose one of them before long if I want to get real. I haven't met Edwards, and have
gotten very mixed reviews from those who have, but on a strictly personal basis (and I don't
rate kissing babies as a big factor, but that's just me), I'm fine with both Obama and HRC
if one of them becomes the nominee. Edwards would be OK, too. It would take a lot worse than
the Democratic field has to offer to make me vote Republican or third party this time around,
and to me not voting is not an option.

Your first few sentences were practically scripted by the rightwing.

I agree she MAY have a problem with "likeability," because for over 15 years the rightwing and its media have hammered into people's heads that she's "unlikeable, polarizing, not warm," etc. etc. blah blah blah...

Sometimes I think she never had a chance. It's amazing what she's been able to do given all that.

The fact that she's anywhere near the front of the pack is kind of astonishing. All we've heard for 15 years is how lousy a person she is, blah, blah, and yet, here she is, right in the middle of a presidential race.