Could Abe Lincoln win the presidency today?

By E.J. PERKINS
azcentral.com
May 1, 2004

If Abraham Lincoln, arguably the nation’s greatest president, ran for the White House today, could he win?

Conventional wisdom would argue: no way, dude.

Lincoln, like the proverbial duck out of water, would likely be incompatible with a political culture geared to superficial dogma and "telegenicity." Lincoln’s voice (squeaky) and physical appearance (awkward) by themselves would probably do him in.

This point of view is not wholly without merit. Here’s what Joshua Speed, a Lincoln contemporary, wrote in his "Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln" not long after observing the president give a speech.

"Mr. Lincoln’s person was ungainly. He was six feet four inches in height; a little stooped in the shoulders; his legs and arms were long; his feet and hands large; his forehead was high. His head was over the average size. His eyes were gray. His face and forehead were wrinkled even in his youth ... Generally he was a very sad man, and his countenance indicated it."
more ...
http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/weekend-coverstory.html

You decide

...so he wouldn't even get past the primary.

Fast forward the 140 years ... you have a candidate with the qualities of Lincoln! Pardon me for my impatience but even you DU'rs take my breath away.

"even you DU'rs take my breath away"

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For those of us who love history and politics. I am afraid that due to the importance of tv, many former presidents would not be able to win election today.

Sending Honest Abe back to Springfield

there are a whole slew of presidents that would never have seen office.


President #:

2. John Adams; short squat bald, and a large nose

16. Lincoln; already mentioned

21. Chester A. Arthur; large, strange looking man

25. Wm McKinnley; looked 'darkly ominous', too serious

32. FDR; polio, wheelchair and leg braces, looked very sickly during the last 3 years of his life.

there may be some others, depends on the criteria, but these would not do well in the TV era.

Strange how both Lincoln and bush are both compared to simians, yet could not be further apart ideologically...:(

The others, that have been around during the TV era are pretty well covered, as they were president.

After all - he is dead.

Seriously, though, I think Lincoln would not be the most telegenic candidate, but if he were living today, he wouldn't have that beard. He'd also be smiling a lot more. I don't know what he looks like other than that, but we have to remember that he would use 20th century styles and fashions.

I think not!