Do looks really matter in politics?

[Fixated]

Does a candidates physical appeal have a big effect on his overall appeal?

[jpgray]

1. Go look at the "hung up on sex" thread. :-) (nt)

[tkmorris]

2. It's sad but.........

They most certainly do. Looks matter in all jobs, from secretaries to salesmen but in politics most especially. Political races are at their core popularity contests.

[notadmblnd]

7. I agree

looks matter everywhere, how you're treated in resturants, by sales people in stores even passing strangers in the street. Who has'nt made fun of a fat lady or some kid that's dressed odd? My husband came home one day complaining about how he was treated by the shopkeeper when he took his raincoat in for repair. He told me that they treated him like he had stolen it and wanted proof that he had purchased the item at their store. I told him it was because how he looked. He went in with worn workjeans and a baseball cap placed backward on his head. I told him the next time he went in the store, to get dressed up and wear his suit and tie. He came home one day and told me I was right, the sales people were fauning over him at the store. Just my two cents.

[maddezmom]

3. don't care a whole bunch

as long as they don't smirk like a chimp.

[JailBush]

4. I think there was a famous debate where Richard Nixon lost because

he hadn't shaved recently enough; he had a "shadow" that allegedly made him look kind of sleazy (as if he wasn't).

[mlawson]

5. Close. People who heard the debate on radio thought that

Nixon won. Those who SAW the debate on TV thought that JFK won.

Looks DO mattter. Oh, hell yes!!!

[Snow]

6. Adlai Stevenson -

it's been said that a large part of his problem with being unable to get elected was his looks.

[JohnKleeb]

8. It wasnt really his looks it was he was called an egghead

[JohnKleeb]

9. It wasnt really his looks it was he was called an egghead

[mlawson]

10. Ike wasn't exactly Mr GQ.

But he was "Ike". That was Adlai's real problem.