Link is not working for the "click here to take part" feature.....

Why does this need a "study?" Or is this something proffered by rejects from the "Mr. Obvious" show?

greg

Link still isn't working.

And I agree with Gregory on this one. Ever since the Nixon/Kennedy debate was televised, the physical attraction of the candidate has been a large factor in politics. Perhaps this should be done in an exit poll fashion instead? Depending on who wins the Democratic nomination here in my home district [CO-7], we could have an excellent case study all lined up.

Borrowing from Stephen Johnson:

Looks matter, to be sure; there's a lower limit to how attractive someone can be and still win a national election. (State elections are different - how many senators would you consider attractive?)

But the visual side of things can tell a story more than just who's hot and who's not. All those people who thought that Nixon with his sweaty forehead and five o'clock shadow looked like a shady, untrustworthy character; although it took us another decade to find out, it turns out that Nixon was in fact a shady, untrustworthy character.

So perhaps it's not so bad as all that, these mediagenic politicians? I'd rather look at a guy and know he's a liar than listen to him and assme he's not.

(/end borrowing of someone else's arguments)