What does Kerry have in common with JFK and Reagan?

[ResistTheCoup]

(Note: This post is food for thought only and is in no way intended to bash Kerry who is my number 2 choice and I will gladly vote for if he gets the nomination. Also, forgive me if both of these points have been discussed in the past here. If they have I've obviously missed them!)

Since Iowa and N.H. placed Kerry as the front-runner, the Feb. 2nd states seem to be falling into place behind his 'electability'. Since 'electability' seems to be the buzzword, statistically speaking, I'd like to know what the actual chances of Kerry's 'electability' in the General Election are.

IMO, looking at the statistics on past Presidents is one way to judge the possible 'electability' of a future candidate.

That being said, if Kerry is elected, he will become only the second Roman Catholic ever elected President (JFK has been the only one) and only the second divorced person ever to be elected President (Reagan presently holds that singular title).

http://www.heptune.com/preslist.html#religions
http://www.campvishus.org/PresMarriage.htm

Now, speaking as someone who was raised Catholic and is also divorced (and remarried), I've got no problems whatsoever with either statistic, nor am I trying to bash other Catholics (or any religion for that matter) or divorced people.

I just want to know what other DU'ers think about the chances of Kerry overcoming statistics and becoming not only the second divorced President and the second Roman Catholic President, but the first divorced, Roman Catholic President.

[BeatleBoot]

1. A hungry man is an angry man

It's the economy and its Democratic turnout.

The religion thing probably won't be much of a factor.

Southern states probably won't vote for him anyway.

For the Reagan Dems in my neck of the woods, the RC thing is a plus.


on edit: spelling :7

[JI7]

2. i don't think those matter anymore

bob dole was divorced when he ran but his loss had nothing to do with him being divorced. it wasn't even an issue. i see the same way with the religion thing. especially since joe lieberman ran on the national ticket and is jewish. also, i think those who would not vote for someone based on them being catholic would most likely not vote democratic anyways.

[adadem]

4. You're absolutely correct n/t

[EXE619K]

3. I wonder if....

The recent scandals of the Catholic church might have some effect on this year's campaign.

Something to think about.

Note: This is not a "smear" on candidate Kerry.

[jobycom]

5. Was Reagan's divorce an issue?

I don't remember anyone bringing it up.

The Repubs are floating the accusation that Kerry womanizes rich widows for monetary gain. I'd like to think that won't stick, but Bush's method is to make outlandish claims, because they are the hardest to fight against, and because the media won't correct him, anyway.

So if Kerry's marriage history becomes a factor, that's how. As for the divorce, it won't come up much. Half of all marriages end in divorce. That's a lot of divorcees who could be alienated. Plus, women's abuse groups would accuse Bush of wanting women to stay in abusive marriages, and it could cause him problems.

Bush will stick to big, false accusations, since false accusations can't be disproven.