What is wrong with the idea of focusing on policies, not people?

[frazzled]

5. I think you need to focus on both together

Consider the Trump voters, who put aside "people" issues (pussy grabbing, bankruptcies, and general unsavory behavior and background) to vote for his "promises" (border walls, repealing Obamacare, immigration curtailment, tax breaks, eradicating terrorism, etc.). They truly believed in these causes, offensive as they are to us, but didn't consider whether the candidate was the kind of person who could actually achieve them. He isn't.

I always look at character in conjunction with policy. Is the candidate, first of all, intelligent, upstanding, and dedicated? Do they have a presidential temperament and relevant experience and people skills? Has this person shown an ability to effect real legislation in the past? Are they good at administration, delegation, and negotiating? And then ... are their policies remotely achievable, or just lures for getting votes? You know, I'm all for world peace and income equality and a chicken in every pot, but those are pretty vague and overly ambitious ideals, absent the concrete and specific intermediary steps toward such goals.

I'm looking for sound policy goals (meaning well studied and thought out) in conjunction with the strategic and people skills to achieve them. Without the people part, the policies are empty promises.

Indeed, I always look to a candidate's character and demeanor first, before I consider policy (given that in most cases, Democratic candidates' policies are not all that far apart). If I can't abide the character, it's a hard stretch for me.