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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDoes running for president make any sense?
From Cecil Adams' "The Straight Dope"
Republican candidates appear to be coming out of the woodwork every day. Do these people actually all think they can win? Does running for the presidency as a low-profile candidate make any logical sense, or are all these people slightly insane?
Cecil replies:
So what makes the Patakis run? OK, some of the borderline candidates are just megalomaniacs with a seeming ability to metabolize derision (were looking at you, Donald). But the rest of the ever-expanding field is likely thinking: maybe I can actually win this thing, and if not the boost in cred alone is probably worth it.
Those who believe they stand a chance of winning at least the nomination arent totally nuts: the primaries are perhaps the only part of the presidential election cycle where the campaign really matters. The post-convention phase of the process, according to many political scientists, is determined by some combination of the state of the economy and the perceived performance of the incumbent party. (Its thought this basic principle may be true of elections worldwide.) So on this theory, all the oratory, charisma, and excruciating interviews with Katie Couric didnt really matter Obama was going to beat McCain in 2008 anyway because Bush was unpopular and the economy was exploding like a cat in a microwave.
The rest at:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3236/does-running-for-president-make-any-sense?utm_source=Chicago+Reader&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=517732_The+Straight+Dope%3a+07%2f03%2f2015&dm_i=2JCR,B3HG,2KTJUC,PIXF,1
Scuba
(53,475 posts)... they'd actually be good at being President,
... the vanity candidates who just want their names in the news,
... and the con men (and women) who are in it to rip off the suckers who send money to them and their PACS.
FSogol
(45,488 posts)PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Last edited Mon Jul 6, 2015, 02:25 PM - Edit history (1)
contracts.
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)Worse, I thought you were talking about the Republicans and I was gonna' say "Makes sense to me"
On the subject, I read an article, years ago, published by a Psychiatrist, that a huge proportion of those running for office, both at the local and national level, are the exact type of individual/personality that should NOT run for office. It was fairly scathing but also had a great ring of truth to it.
FSogol
(45,488 posts)BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)...are just as strong and true.
NV Whino
(20,886 posts)I read the same thing. And I thought, sure the GOP roster is full of dogs.
(No offense intended to dogs or those who love them.)
Lurks Often
(5,455 posts)Seriously, does anyone really think Lincoln Chafee stands a chance of winning the Democratic nomination for President?
As to the why for those who stand no chance: ego, money or maybe a chance at the VP slot or a Cabinet seat.