Can Charismatic Candidates Offer Substance?
This is Sound Politics’ take on the charisma and screen presence of Mitt Romney. Haven’t made up my mind (been busy throwing out Peanut Butter) on Romney, yet. I will say it doesn’t bother me whether he’s pro-choice or not. There is definitely something to be said for good rhetorical instincts and charisma (Obama is not all the rage because of his lack of skill in these areas). It’s also true (as everyone knows) that an executive just has a way better chance of getting into the oval office than a legislator–40 years since the latter has happened. The question to me is not whether Romney could deliver conservatives in the South (if he’s up against Hillary, he could be a professed Satanist and would still get the conservative vote–promise). The question to me is whether he could deliver any Blue States. Is his “compassionate, reasonable, moderateness,” or whatever a Republican has to claim to win in Massachussets, going to be enough to win in a national election? But there’s no doubt he’
