Democratic Primaries
Showing Original Post only (View all)Charisma in Presidential Elections...when has the candidate with less charisma won the White House? [View all]
Last edited Wed Apr 10, 2019, 08:29 PM - Edit history (1)
Keep in mind that charisma can be both positive and negative.
Charisma elicits a powerful reaction. It inspires the kind of emotion, energy and dedication that wins elections. Obama has hopeful, positive charisma. Trump has negative, fear and hate fueled charisma.
Obama's kind of charisma not only wins elections...it wins re-elections and can defeat the negative charisma.
Trump's kind of charisma, angry, negative charisma...can be defeated with positive, hopeful charisma...something to believe in, a unifying source.
Democrats must NOT ignore this, no matter how much they may love a candidate. If the nominee does not have positive charisma and the ability to inspire hope and unity and rise above the angry rhetoric and attacks then Trump will be re-elected.
Looking back as far as 1980...the candidate with the best/most charisma has won EVERY single presidential election, no exceptions.
Democrats must get this right.
Editing to add an article that probably does a better job explaining what I'm trying to say. I am not familiar with this source but I clicked around and didn't find any obvious partisan slant, so I hope it is balanced. I'm using it more to remind people of the candidates during those races.
http://www.throughlinegroup.com/2012/11/07/barack-obama-the-most-charismatic-candidate-always-wins/
An excerpt:
"Consider these nine elections:
In 1980, the more charismatic Ronald Reagan defeated dour incumbent Jimmy Carter.
In 1984, Reagan crushed Walter Mondale.
In 1988, George H.W. Bushnever accused of being the most charismatic man in the roomdefeated an even less charismatic Michael Dukakis.
In 1992, the super-charismatic Bill Clinton defeated the more patrician George H.W. Bush. He was re-elected in 1996 by beating Bob Dole, a candidate fond of asking crankily, Wheres the outrage?
In 2000, George W. Bush defeated Al Gore. Although that election was contested, Id argue that Bushs edge in charisma allowed the race to be that close in the first place. And in 2004, Bush won re-election by beating the more patrician John Kerry.
In 2008, Barack Obama beat John McCain, who almost defined the word cranky.
And in last nights Election 2012, Obama won re-election by beating the less charismaticand yes, more patricianMitt Romney."
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided