I Don’t Like You, Hillary (and George)

As the old saying goes, if I had a dime for every time I have heard the phrase “I don’t like you,” I would be worth a few hundred thousand. Sadly though, that pales in comparison to our current chief executive. George W. Bush’s approval ratings (which encompass his on the job performance) has been at a consistent 32-34% over the past year, especially due in part to his waning war in Iraq. But the question I am attempting to answer this time around is whether the voters actually like a candidate (or incumbent) as a person; not as a politician (is that an oxymoron?).

George W. Bush relates to a vast majority of the electorate based on his “down to Earth, everyday man” image (why do you think he relishes photo ops at his ranch?). The man use to be an alcoholic, he is a failed business man, he weaseled his way out of military duty in Vietnam, he owns a farm, and he has an IQ of 90 (the average American is around 100-110, I believe?). Whether we like it or not, most of us have one thing or another in common with this man (I to have a DUI, yes!). That may have won him the election in 2000 (he didn’t win), but in 2004 his leadership ability won him re-election.

That brings be to the real issue, what is the electorate looking for on the current slate of presidential contenders? Likability does help a candidate in any election, whether it is presidential or local. “Packaging” the candidate is a key component of any organized campaign; looks, personality, etc… all matter in the modern political arena (John Adams, a fowl looking man, would’ve never won if he were running today). Hillary Clinton is the least liked presidential contender (she can come off as quite cold and “unfeminine”). But on the flipside of the coin, she is also leading in the polls because voters believe her life experiences (her husband was president for 8 years, you know) have bestowed upon her above average leadership skills.

In many ways Hillary Clinton will never escape the shadow of her husband. Bill Clinton was one of the most popular presidents in history (whether or not you believe he did anything for the country, the electorate love his “nice guy image”) and is still immensely popular. There is a good chance that as the election approaches; the aggregate of opinions will not change towards Hillary due to the fact that we already know her life’s story and that she was incredibly capable while in the first lady’s post. Rudy Giuliani and Mit Romney have scored high “likability ratings” on the GOP side, while Barack Obama and John Edwards have scored the highest on the Democratic side of the coin. You may be a nice guy (or woman), but it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll win.