Likeability factors

[windansea]

which candidate holds the most appeal to middle America?

why?

[jmaier]

1. Wesley Clark

- telegenic
- warm
- looks experienced
- confident
- solid pro-little guy positions
- can talk tough without seeming to posture
- a decorated military career (nice to have in Heartlands)

[windansea]

2. agree Wes is very likeable (NT)

[arewethereyet]

3. John Edwards, hands down

he's far more real and accessable yet statesmanlike and encyclopedic on his platform.

[windansea]

11. yep!!

JE is cool!

[rumguy]

4. Kucinch, definetaly Kucinich

that's why I say Kucinish/Sharpton in '04

[windansea]

13. DK is da kind!!

DK = dk

[laruemtt]

5. the Wes is the best

get here, and we'll do the rest...

[andym]

6. Clark and Edwards

Both are very likeable.

[Kathleen04]

18. Second that n/t

[incapsulated]

22. Yep

I don't know why Edwards isn't doing better. I think it's something about looking too young, and not having the amount of charisma you almost expect...

[dajabr]

7. Is that the same as favorability?

Or, is it more like a Q rating?

[windansea]

8. Q rating is a factor

of name popularity and related to likeability

[windansea]

9. Q rating

is your famous factor....used to factor $$ for celeb endoresements and commercial viability

likeability is harder to measure...but muy importante!!

[dajabr]

12. So favorability is not related to likeabilty...

At all?

[windansea]

27. not sure what you mean by favorability

Q numbers are based on name recognition and likability, trust etc

In a presidential election...name recognition is basically equal and a huge percentage of votes are cast on intangible factors such as likeability and trust...I think policies and platforms are important but more votes are cast (especially by independents) on instinct and gut feelings.

[helleborient]

10. So what is the definition of middle America?

Hmmm???

[windansea]

14. million dollar question

watch the game show hosts scramble to be there

[windansea]

16. another answer

your average middle american wants equality, safety, prosperity...etc

they tend to vote on perception of character rather than 'positions"

[molly]

15. I don't think "middle America" will even be interested

until after the first of the year. These are people that only read their local papers and candidates are judged firstly on name recognition. They watch the nightly news - CBS, NBC, and ABC and don't give a damn unless a specific candidate says or does something exceptional. We can only hope that the economy and loss of jobs benefits us. They will start tuning in after the first of the year.

[windansea]

19. wow

loss of jobs? bad economy? surely we can do better than that

leadership...positive goals...a better future

[A-Schwarzenegger]

17. AL !!!

[windansea]

20. al?? as in gore??

we have 3 or 4 candidates wayyyyyyyyy better than al

[A-Schwarzenegger]

21. Al "The Sharper Image" Sharpton !?!

Middle America likes a straight shooter
and a plain talker. If you close your eyes
Al sounds like Harry S. Truman.

[windansea]

24. I like him more now

he's gotten past the race card and lets you inside

has cool sense of humor and would probably be the most fun to go clubbing with...

[yaledem]

23. Edwards

[kerry-is-my-prez]

25. Clark, then Edwards

n/t

[windansea]

26. gonna offer 2 more

Senators Gephart and Kerry are 2 true americans and both have a verifiable record of accomplishments advancing true democratic values in the USA...

[oasis]

28. IMO, Kerry is more of a reassuring, confident type. Deep thinking, sober

and serious. "Likable" only in the sense that I'd like him to be president. :-)