21 January 2008
Taxonomy of a Presidential Race
Two kinds of politicians characterize candidates for the race to become President of the U.S.
1) Those who can convince people to advocate what they believe
2) Those who can figure out what people want (or need) and how to get it for them.
The first group, converts who think they have a calling and who are effective at inspiring their followers through their eloquence or the force of their personalities, includes George W. Bush, Barack Obama, John McCain, and other Wilsonians. The second group are more pragmatic managers, like Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, Hillary Clinton, and even Mike Huckabee. The latter candidate demonstrates that Christian evangelicals are not necessarily driven by the message they feel they must convey.
The American electorate seems to swing its support from one pole to the other over time. Voters’ fatigue and frustration with the failures of the Bush Administration—including an unnecessary and costly war and its coddling of a corrupt Congress—portends a mood change that will favor ascent to the White House by a doer in the tradition of Jefferson and the Roosevelts.
