Q. Why are Kerry & Edwards doing so well? A. It's their first name.

[stopbush]

They're both named John. The other Dem candidates all have first names that are unacceptable to present-day Americans:

Wesley
Howard
Dennis
Al

Post-WWII Americans like their president to be named John or Bill or James or Richard or George...or something like that. The only guys with strange names that became president in the modern era did so because their boss either died (Harry S Truman), got killed (Lyndon Johnson) or resigned (Gerald Ford).

That's why bush "won" in 2000 - Al Gore didn't stand a chance.

I think my explanation (re: electability) is just as good as any opinion I've heard from the pundits this year...

[rjbcar27]

1. Could it be that they're just good candidates?

The more I see of Edwards, the more I like him. I've liked Kerry from the start.

[Monte Carlo]

2. Wow, you get points for an original angle...

... but you're right. The name thing is a just as valid theory as what most of the pundits on TV throw together.

[madaboutharry]

3. Interesting theory, but I

disagree about Harry Truman. I think "Harry" is an old standard.

[stopbush]

4. But, modern era? What other pres was named Harry?

[stopbush]

5. Just to drive home my point, look at the names of the guys who

have lost recently.

Hubert Humphrey
Adlai Stevenson
Walter Mondale
Mike Dukakis

and, when he ran against a "normal named" guy (James Carter),

Gerald Ford.

I guess the exception that proves the rule is Dwight Eisenhower, but he was pretty much a shoo-in after WWII.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

6. Word of mouth matters. Can't pronounce it, can't promote it. Kuci-what??

And linguists have concluded that we think in our minds with the vocabulary we have learned. That is why propaganda works.

Dennis Kucinich would have much better numbers if folks could pronounce his name when thinking and sharing with others.

You are absolutely correct about this dynamic.

[stopbush]

7. Right. And unlike actors and others, politicians can't change their names.

Remember the shitstorm that arose when it was "reported" that candidate Gary Hart's real name was Hartpence? You woulda thunk the sky was falling.

I wonder how Kucinich would be doing if years ago he had changed his name to John Steel?

[JohnOneillsMemory]

9. Recommended stage name-Dennis the Menace. Empowerment! Showbiz!

Kucinich does need a stage name. Like a wrestler.
"The Kuchinater, The Kuchifier, Kuchirama..."

[Armstead]

8. Since my first name is John...

I'll go with that theory.

But don't forget "Lyndon." Talk about a wussy first name. Sounded like a flower.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

10. but 'Johnson?'...nuff said...wink wink nudge nudge...n/t