WHAT TROUBLE? CLINTON HAS EARLY LOCK ON IOWA CAUCUS, QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS

[MADem]

93. Clinton looks like a former cheerleader. The "rules," too, are still being written for women.

They don't have a publicly defined persona, yet, because the public hasn't let them into the arena in any great number. About all we know about women in public office is that the hair can't be "too" long, the outfit has to be closer to Angela Merkel than Sofia Vergara, and the make-up shouldn't be too clownish (though this rule isn't univerally applied on the GOP side--e.g. Bachmann, Palin, et. al.).

You don't actually have to BE an athlete, you just have to look like one. Or a former one. I have no clue as to O'Malley's background in this regard, but he knows how to fake it:



George W. Bush was a cheerleader, as was Trent Lott. Chris Christie was apparently a decent baseball player. It's not an absolute requirement that males be regarded as athletic, or former athletes, but apparently it conveys an advantage-- the electorate likes people who have demonstrated an ability to engage in team sports.