How much will Dean's appearance hurt him?

[Gringo]

I always hear from right-wingers on Yahoo, "He has no neck" and "He's a midget."

How much will his "short neck" and 5'8" stature hurt him?

[CMT]

1. it won't hurt him

he looks fine. He is about as tall as Harry Truman and gives the Republicans hell just like that Fiesty Missouri mule. Also, Jimmy Carter is not much taller than what Dean is.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. It will hurt him enough to lose

it will lose him the superficial last minute deciders and will cost him a close election. But I don't think it will ever be close enough for him to win.

[CWebster]

4. You're a kerry supporter, aren't you?

I hope I don't need to say more.

Cripes.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. and you know the height differential with Bush is pretty bad

and will cost Dean a lot of votes.

[9119495]

9. If that were true, I would give up on democracy in America

So the new way to get swing votes is to get tall candidates?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. Show me a recent presidential election where the significantly

shorter candidate won.

[Hep]

11. Yeah, Kerry's FACE is taller than Dean

But his MOM says he's handsome!

[CWebster]

14. Well

A lot of good Kerry's height does when he resembles Lurch.

Hey, you started it.

:P

[Hep]

Nah

Lurch doesn't look like he's perpetually STONED.

[madddog]

28. bingo..

Kerry looks like Jay Leno's demented brother lol. As long as he's around, how can anyone make fun of Dean?

[molly]

8. A lot of it has to do with his body language

he is stiff and forced and controlled. Look at the other candidates in comparison.

[CWebster]

18. Ahem

...

[Padraig18]

37. "(h)e is stiff and forced and controlled."

He's the only political candidate I can think of who makes Al Gore looks animated. :P

[Minstrel Boy]

3. what's wrong with him?

Not a damn thing. To me, he's always looked the most presidential of the bunch. And appearances shouldn't matter, but they do.

Now this guy...

[wabeewoman]

6. It won't matter....

Once you get to know someone, no matter how homely they are, they look more attractive. But I think Dean as good as any of the dem candidates except Edwards and SOOOOO much better than the chimp!

[w4rma]

7. The wrestler's neck gives him a tough look. Americans like tough. (n/t)

[Hep]

12. Damn right

Dean looks tough and has a great voice.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

15. Dean has a whiny voice

it can really grate.

[Hep]

17. Uh huh

WHatever. Lay off the ludes, buddy. Your man sounds like he's in the middle of a whippet binge.

[ozone_man]

19. I think he could take Bush

right down to the mat and pin him in about 10 seconds, don't you think?

Well, I prefer to think of verbal "pinning" as in a debate. He's a fighter, that's for sure.

[JohnKleeb]

13. I could care less about how Dean looks frankly

More important things about Dean than his looks honestly, and btw I know the feeling of having my candiate dissed for his looks, I am a Kucinich supporter, and know the feeling all too well.

[ecstatic]

16. His hair might do him in

It looked almost like a badly fitted toupee was plopped on the back of his head. He's still my fav though :-)

[mb7588a]

20. well, being tall helps

Historically, the tall guy wins. Also, historically, tall lanky guys can't dance. :( Can Dean dance?

Primaries are much more beauty contests than general elections are.

[CWebster]

24. Yes, Dean dances

He was stepping out with Carol after the Iowa thing and I was quite impressed.

I thought it was pretty cool.

[blm]

21. Looks should NEVER be a factor.

.

[Scott Lee]

27. Pamela Anderson SHOULDN'T be an actress, either...

Yet, there it is.

[madddog]

29. she isn't lol...

Barb Wire....'nuff said!

[AP]

22. Winning Dem is going to have be twice as good, handsome, smart, as Bush

to win.

You have to beat the spread created by the whore media.

[Hep]

34. Naivete time

The right has the media, but the left has US. We'll make the media irrelevant.

[Melinda]

23. They don't call em "yahoo's" for nothing. Shallow, shallow, shallow

[Oreegone]

25. As John Stewart said the other nigh

I like the guy with the neck, the arms you know the wrestler.

Dean looks scrappy like he can take care of himself. I think if he was a skinny guy it would be different. If I saw him and Bush coming at me in an alley, he would be the one I would worry about.

This is a good thing.

[Bombtrack]

26. along with his negativity it'll come across as a napolian complex

[JackRiddler]

30. dupe

d

[WhosNext]

31. The "wrestling coach" look could appeal to many

He appears as though he is a wrestling coach dressed up for the yearly sports banquet. This could appeal to many blue-collar types.

[JackRiddler]

32. So, anyway, Gringo, how badly do you beat your wife?

Ever hear of a loaded question?

Ever hear of a cheap shot disguised as a question?

Cute that you introduce this via the "right wingers on Yahoo."

Shame!

What if someone else started a poll like, "How much would X's appearance help him?" Wouldn't that be laughed off as blatant electioneering?

Dude, if you want to attack Dean, just attack. It's more honest.

(Hm, how much do Dubya's shifty eyes, smirk, inability to speak a single sentence in English, clumsiness, and doof-boy cheerleading hurt him? Plenty. Good thing, too!)

[ibegurpard]

33. If we are going to discuss irrelevant things like looks

then I can think of a couple other candidates who are more lacking in that category than Dean.

[rucky]

35. Somebody elected this guy:

[Anaxamander]

36. Looks don't matter. However,

I think Dean looks perfectly normal. He was shorter than I thought he would be when I met him in person, but he's a handsome guy I'd say.

As for Kerry, for all I hear about his looks, I think he's very distinguished and has a wonderful smile! :)

John Edwards is a very handsome man. If the election was based on looks alone, he would be 30 points ahead in NH.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

38. It won't affect him because unlike Dukaukis who was also short...

...Dean presents himself as a tough-man. He holds his head up and presents himself with strength. That will look a hell of alot better than the slumping chimpster!