Obama the Next President?

The presidential election will be over in 10 months and ballrooms supporting the winning candidate will be covered in confetti and balloons as patrons dance and cheer in celebration.  A lot can and surely will happen in the forthcoming months as the campaigns wind down and party representatives are announced.  And for Americans like myself who are registered independents, we will spend inordinate amounts of time scrutinizing the possible choices for our next commander-in-chief.

Republicans should be worried as no front-runner has emerged that will appeal to voters at the center of the political spectrum.  Each of the candidates have a committed core group of supporters, but all of them lack any widespread support.  Huckabee appeals to Evangelicals, McCain has the immigration/terrorism crowd, Romney has businessmen and Mormans, and Giuliani is finished without a win in Florida.  Beyond the Republican voters lacking a widespread favorite, all the candidates are scrapping for cash with another 10 months to go.  The current leader, Romney, is the only candidate that isn’t broke and he’s bankrolling his campaign currently out of his own pocket.

Regardless of who wins out on the Republican side, outside of Huckabee (who doesn’t stand a chance) none of the candidates possess the eloquence and likability to win a modern presidential election.  As a whole, the Republican candidates appear much like Al Gore and John Kerry of past elections in the personality department (severely lacking).  And when it comes to national elections there is no more beneficial trait to possess than likability.  Let’s face it, all politics aside, no one wants to vote for a jerk that appears impersonal.  My guess is that Romney pulls out the win in the Republican primary solely because he has the most money at his disposal.  Save the PC, all that comes to mind when I think of Romney is rich, white, Mormon lacking personality…in essence, he’s the Republican version of John Kerry that isn’t Catholic.

Speaking of likability, the Democratic party is in much better shape to throw an inauguration party come November.  Hillary brings more experience, a better political machine, and is accompanied by perhaps the most notable “first spouse” in history.  This sounds like a pretty good start, but there are quite a few obstacles she will have to overcome if she hopes to win out.  To begin with, she is a polarizing figure as is her husband making them an incredibly polarizing couple…most everyone has an opinion and it’s not open for change.  Beyond her husband I just don’t think Hillary is likable enough to win a presidential election.  She just has too many people that hate her.

Which leads us to Obama.  His entrance into the race was lauded by some as a civil rights milestone and caused others to question his religion after hearing his name (after all, we can’t have a terrorist running for president).  After gaining an endorsement from Oprah, he has catapulted into the lead at this point in the primaries.  His youthfulness and good looks will be important factors in his campaign as he continues.  Partly because he has less track record to be used against him.  As vanity infused Americans, good looks always matter no matter what we claim.  I think he will win the Democratic nomination and match up against Romney, and some wacko from the Green party for the presidency.

I fear that I will have similar feelings this election of voting for the candidate whom I dislike less.  America is awesome and there is no where in the world I would rather live, but I’m getting tired of sterile candidates that need millions of dollars in support to even contend.  I know that some of you are probably upset that I haven’t included much of anything pertaining to the beliefs and stances of each candidate.   You can devalue my analysis, but let’s get real…Americans vote for the pretty and best performing.  I can’t be too far off considering the next American Idol will have more votes than our next president.  So here’s to you Barak Obama, the next and first black president (not including Bill Clinton, of course).