When it comes down to brass tacks, people vote for the candidate they like.
Based on data gathered by Wonkosphere from political bloggers, both conservative and progressive bloggers find John Edwards to be the most likable democrat in the race for president. Among the republicans, the prize goes to Mike Huckabee who, like Edwards, topped the charts not just with conservative bloggers but with progressives as well.
It will come as a shock to many who spend time surfing the political blogsphere, but most Americans are just not tuned in to the presidential race and won't be until the bitter end. When they do tune in, about 80% of the time, they will make their choice with their gut, or so says Dr. Drew Westen, author of The Political Brain. What Westen refers to as "curb appeal" is hugely important, especially when it comes to attracting undecided and swing voters. You would think that democrats learned that lesson in 2004 when Bush won the presidency, not because he was the smarter candidate, not because he was a stronger leader, but because more people picked him as the guy they would rather have a beer with.
It will come as a shock to many who spend time surfing the political blogsphere, but most Americans are just not tuned in to the presidential race and won't be until the bitter end. When they do tune in, about 80% of the time, they will make their choice with their gut, or so says Dr. Drew Westen, author of The Political Brain. What Westen refers to as "curb appeal" is hugely important, especially when it comes to attracting undecided and swing voters. You would think that democrats learned that lesson in 2004 when Bush won the presidency, not because he was the smarter candidate, not because he was a stronger leader, but because more people picked him as the guy they would rather have a beer with.
Here's what Kevin Dooley of Wonkosphere had to say about their research:
Amongst the leading Democratic candidates, John Edwards scored highest in
likability amongst liberal bloggers (96), followed closely by Barack Obama (88)
and Chris Dodd (88). Following Obama were Bill Richardson (73), Hillary Clinton
(58), Dennis Kucinich (31), Joe Biden (22), and Mike Gravel (8).
"There were also some interesting results concerning the cross-over buzz," said
Wonkosphere's Steve Corman. "Huckabee was the most-liked Republican to liberal bloggers (82), while they really have it in for Giuliani (14). Conversely, John
Edwards was the most liked Democrat to conservative bloggers, with likability
almost twice as high as all of the other Democrats."
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1 comment:
You are so right in pointing out that a lot of people are as yet uninvolved in the political side-taking scene. Here in Houston County some of us have been doing "voter education" for that very reason. We have been setting up a booth in front of groceries and other stores and passing out info sheets about voter ID, voter registration, how to contact the local Bd of Elections for questions about polling places abd residency, and so on...nothing partisan at all, just useful information & urging people to participate in the important choices that lie before us. Many of the folks we have talked to did not know that the presidential preference primary in GA will be on Feb.5.
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