2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Electability [View all]H2O Man
(73,537 posts)I think that to a very large extent, it is a popularity contest. Yet, that cannot explain why any human being would vote for Ted Crux. So we can be sure that there is more to it, other layers beneath that shallow surface.
One of them is safety. Is a given candidate "strong" enough to provide safety for the nation? And a lot of factors can influence the public's perception on this. Sad to say, Ronald Reagan's Hollywood image -- from movies to commercials -- convinced many that they'd have a rough and tough cowboy in the White House. Even George W. Bush tried to copy that, with his cowboy hat and chain saw, out at his ranch. It is pathetic that many republicans insist that W kept the country safe.
It's a fascinating topic. Thank you for a thoughtful response.