Who is our most charismatic candidate?

[mia]

I like Cory Booker. He's intelligent, charismatic, well-spoken, experienced,
and telegenic.

The age of the hyperleader: when political leadership meets social media celebrity

In an era of profound suspicion towards party bureaucracies, digital media has delivered a new type of politician.

In 1911, sociologist Robert Michels listed the qualities that give a political leader charisma: knowledge, eloquence, self-confidence, self-reliance, and, most important of all, celebrity. At the time Michels was writing, politicians cultivated and transmitted celebrity through newspapers, radio, books and speaking tours. Later came broadcast television and late-night politics shows. The last decade has seen these forums give way to a new mode of communication: social media.

Broadcast TV favoured telegenic politicians able to seduce living room audiences. This was famously the case when John F. Kennedy unexpectedly won the White House in 1960, beating Richard Nixon in the first televised presidential debate. In the social media era, the relationship between celebrity and politics has mutated into something more extreme.

Political influence is now measured in part through social media metrics: likes, followers, and shares. A politician’s Twitter prowess – or lack thereof – can make or break a political career. If social media was once considered a secondary space for political communication, it is vastly outstripping TV as the medium of choice for political communication. As George Osborne recently put it, politicians who fail to understand the power of social media belong to a “dinosaur age”....

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2019/03/age-hyperleader-when-political-leadership-meets-social-media-celebrity

[riverine]

1. I agree with this thesis. The mushy middle of the electorate does not vote

for policy. They vote for "the man/person".

Is Booker the most charismatic? Probably so far.

Beto could change that.

[SidDithers]

2. Harris, by far...nt

Sid

[Lazy Daisy]

24. I would have to agree with you here

Kamala is smooth as silk. When she speaks, it's with eloquence.

All the other candidates have one thing or another that distracts.

[watoos]

3. I only have one characteristic in choosing,

our candidate has to be as tough as nails. Policy is secondary. We need to win first.

So far I have 3 in mind, and 2 are female.

[patricia92243]

4. I have not seen them all speak yet so really can't tell now. But, I do realize charisma is

very important. If you just don't like a person, it is hard to listen to their ideas.

[emulatorloo]

5. For declared candidates, Booker and Harris, Warren has her moments too

JMHO of course. Castro as well.

Bernie seems to have his charms for some, but it is lost on me. Definitely don’t think “charismatic” when I hear Gillibrand’s name

[democratisphere]

6. Biden connects with people.

[Garrett78]

7. Harris, Booker, O'Rourke

And charisma is far more important than some may be comfortable acknowledging. I think a Harris-O'Rourke ticket would produce record-breaking Democratic turnout.

[Bucky]

18. I'd be superpleased with that ticket.

Or any mix of the three.

[Cha]

20. And, not Just "Charisma".. the

substance behind it.. like President Obama has.

[Adrahil]

8. Of those in now...

Both Harris and Booker are very charismatic, IMO.

If Beto gets in, he’s up there, too.

[Bucky]

19. Beto's building hype all over SxSW. I'm certain he's gonna declare soon.

He's actually being a bit of a tease about it. That's the sort of dramatic flare we'll need to beat the Republican hype machine.

I still need to see more substance from him, but along with Booker, Harris, Warren, and Inslee, he's who I'm looking at the hardest.

[Sherman A1]

9. Charisma is certainly important to draw attention

but I believe that a reasonable plain spoken set of policies will make the difference to hold that attention.

[KPN]

10. Frankly, I think most of the current candidates have charisma -- at least enough to satisfy me. One

diamond in the rough that stands out to me, however, is Pete Buttigieg. My sense is he will get more votes than most of us anticipate, but I don't think he'll carry any and certainly not enough States at this stage in his career. But look out down the road as long as he keeps his nose clean.

Otherwise: Biden, Harris, Eliz Walker, Beto O, Booker, Klobuchar have it -- and even Sanders has his own crusty style of charisma. I'd put Gabbard in that group as well and Castro. Haven't seen enough of Hickenlooper or Inslee to say. Oh, and there's Gillibrand of course -- not sure she has enough to overcome her Franken disaster.

[eShirl]

11. Kamala Harris

no contest, imho

[Tetrachloride]

12. My best Pres/VP ticket scenarios have Kamala Harris more often than other candidates

Meanwhile, Joe Biden's high numbers in the polls put him as 2nd most appearing candidate in my best scenarios.

Regarding "charisma", let me hypothesize there are 2 kinds of charisma.

1. "Prosecutorial" appeal of Kamala Harris. The person who sees the road to project completion.
2. "Trans Am" and other laid back styles.

I surmise Beto O'Rourke is mainly #2, but not entirely.

Another way to say is: in what manner does a candidate light up your Blue Wave spirit ? Lightning bolts or a campfire beer or banana milkshake or 100 cappucinno's.

[CrossingTheRubicon]

14. Booker and Biden

[empedocles]

15. Signficant real leadership charisma, to be honest, not noticed it among the hopefuls.

[Andy823]

16. Harris

She has it more than anyone else.

[Awsi Dooger]

17. Beto then Klobuchar then a huge plunge

I'm referring to how it would play out under pressure of a general election campaign, not how it looks now, which is basically meaningless and prone to suckerism.

I will put an asterisk next to Inslee because he could be among the top tier also. I am not confident in slotting him right now.

[Blue_true]

27. How do you like Pete Buttigieg?

Everytime I have watched him answer questions he has come off as clearheaded and he addresses every aspect of the question with sound proposals. I am really looking forward th Beto and Mayor Pete on the first debate stage, should be must watch tv. I like Hickenlooper and Inslee for proven executive level accomplishments, but Buttigieg has flown onto my radar screen, I didn't take him seriously until I watched him answer questions on two occasions.

[Gothmog]

21. Go Beto

Link to tweet

[Uncle Joe]

22. Bernie and Elizabeth Warren are the most charismatic to me.

That's because for myself, the message is most attractive, it's timeless.


Thanks for the thread mia.

[NurseJackie]

23. I know who it's not.

[Blue_true]

25. Pete Buttigieg rivets my attention. He is not charismatic, but he speaks well, directly and clearly

I never get the feeling that he didn't answer questions in the two times that I have watched him present his proposals and also answer questions.

[Cousin Dupree]

26. Booker and Harris