How do you determine electability?

[rucky]

Seems pretty subjective to me, but that's just my opinion. Without the benefit of a crystal ball, I guess you just have to try to get a feel for public opinion. But maybe there is a system we each use, we just haven't really gotten into our own thought processes enough to back up our instincts?

Since we're all equal experts in the field, here, share your system with us. If you do indeed feel more qualified than others to determine this (maybe you're a political scientist or something), please explain the principles involved.

Not necessarily specific to a single candidate: Are there litmus tests you can make that work on all the candidates? We've all applied the formula to a number of the candidates to give them the thumbs up or down on behalf of John Q Public. A related question, why is it easier to give someone the thumbs-down than make the case for a thumbs-up?

I know it's complicated & much of it depends on instinct, but there's gotta be some logical discernment of factors that lead to - or away from - electability.

If we were to create a system, I suppose it would be a rating system based on a number of factors. What would those factors be?

[Democrats unite]

1. The same way the rest of America does..

It's called primaries.

[xchrom]

2. charisma, approachability

quick thinking on the feet, superb ability to communicate indeas simply without sounding arrrogant,
then there being commited to the ideas said candidate ran on.
i want to know that he/she won't sell out the whole idea for the sake of deals made behind closed doors. they should exude the confidence that gives the voter they can weather a storm.
my short list, thank you.

[salin]

3. electability prognosticators... we have a bunch of them here... all "know"

who can win (primaries) who can/can't beat bush...

Funny thing... is they don't agree!

[mmonk]

4. electability is a premise

until it becomes a reality.

[freestyle]

5. The Constitution

Any natural born citizen over 35 can be elected President. That's it. I know that probably doesn't answer the question as intended, but those are the only criteria for being elected. All this talk about electability is really about silencing certain candidates who the media would rather not deal with.

[LuminousX]

14. BINGO! Get this poster a prize!

[killbotfactory]

6. I listen to what pundits say as indisputible fact

And assume American's are moron's who only believe the last thing anybody tells them.

[rucky]

9. LOL - great system!

no thought required

why am i beating up my brain over this anyways?

[Tela Zasloff]

7. Electability is the only issue that matters

The only issue that matters in this race for the presidency is electability—who can beat Bush. Our nominee needs three qualifications:

1. The trust of the majority of Democrats--meaning moderates, centrists, swing voters, independents--that he can put back into place the Democratic agenda for our country.

2. Strong foreign policy and military background that reassures the majority of Democrats and independents that he can keep them safe. We are running against a war president.

3. The assurance to the majority of Democrats that he will keep the middle-class tax cuts. Bush has been slashing taxes over the past three years so he can accuse the Democratic nominee of raising taxes again, on the middle class.

Look at the attack ads coming from the Republican National Committee, just beginning, against the Democratic candidates. Numbers 2 and 3 are exactly where they are hammering away.

Senator John Kerry fulfills all three qualifications superbly. He has spent his life as both a fighter/protestor and a builder of new, progressive directions at the national level. No other candidate comes close to him on these qualities.

Look at what he envisions for the first hundred days of a Kerry administration: a National Education Trust Fund; a new National Service; affordable health care; end of influence peddling from special interests; repeal of Bush’s assault on the environment; making the U.S. energy independent; rewarding companies that create jobs, not phony corporate profit; creating a middle class economy, not a privileged class economy; cutting the deficit in half in four years; rejoining the community of nations.

Kerry is the most electable and as president, will fight with us to bring our country back.

[rucky]

10. That's all great on paper

but what does he do to connect with the voters?

I find him appealing. I'm just wondering why he's falling flat with the public.

* has skated by on an aw-shucks good ol' boy image for this long. Can an intellectual-type beat him, or is that approach still a turn-off?

[ibegurpard]

8. After the fact

n/t

[goodhue]

13. yes

the only way

[info being]

11. An election determines electibility

Anything else is just a prediction and should be taken with a grain of salt.

[mlawson]

12. Look at Ronnie and Big Dog.

They were both immenently electable, and could EASILY have won third terms. What do they have in common???

--- An ability (real or imagined) to connect with the voters. Clinton's was real; Ronnie was a good actor, but it worked anyway. The 2nd debate in 1992, when the lady asked Poppy about how HE was affected by the recession. Of course he had no clue, but Big Dog went right over to her. He won the WH that night, IMO.
--- In order to get the votes of the middle, the apoliticals, the candidate MUST be LIKABLE!!!! Intelligent? Naw, that doesn't matter. Knowledgable, no not really.
=== Above all the person absolutely MUST have TEFLON!!! Assuming he is a Dem, of course. Repukes do not need it.