How many people do you think vote on image?

[Droopy]

I think a lot of people do, unfortunately. I think this is the strongest weapon that Bush has in his arsenal. It surely isn't his record. There has been a lot of work done making Bush try to look like he's a straight-shooter, tough guy, common man. We here at DU have seen through the veil and know Bush for the ass that he is. However, to be frank, I don't think a lot of voters have seen through the act. They simply don't follow politics the way we do. All they see is the sound bites on tv and those aren't really revealing of who Bush is. If they were then more people would know that Bush is a priviledged elitist trying to play Mr. Blue Collar Guy. And that's what really steams me about him. Bush's policies are designed to strangle the social welfare programs that so many working people are going to depend upon at some point in their life. Be it welfare, education, the environment, or social security Bush really wants to do away with it and basically just have the majority of our tax dollars going to the defense industry. Just keep cutting taxes and well what do you know? All of the sudden we don't have the money to cover all those programs and stuff starts hitting the chopping block. And you can be damn sure it isn't the Pentagon that's going to be feeling the crunch. Bush is trying to appeal to common people then when their backs are turned he slits their throats.

So, should the DNC start running ads attacking Bush's image? Should Kerry try to out-tough the poser in chief?

We've got the truth on our side, but we've got to be able to get people to see through the shit storm of lies being generated by BushCo to see that we're the good guys who'll fight to make the lives of working people better.

[PurityOfEssence]

1. 85%

Just ballparking it here, but humans are deeply shallow. Part of it's programming so traits of beauty and pizazz win the breeding fight and propel the species toward greater success. Of course, we're long past that need, but we're still profoundly primitive.

That number means that a great majority of people ONLY look at image, cuteness, polished presentation or adherence to certain stereotypes like the cowboy or the hero. The number got bigger because virtually everyone is somewhat swayed by these things, so the whole thing rolled up is a walk over.

Of course, this is all rigorously calculated...

To counter Junior's image, Kerry needs to essentially be what he is: a stolid, responsible and honest father figure; this will pick out the flaw of Junior's recklessness. No matter how dim or uninvolved people are, they can still see that the cocksure numbskull has wreaked havoc far and wide with his shenanigans; war is tiring.

[featherman]

2. Just a guess: about 30% which is quite high

Most others probably vote by regional or ideological identification (tribalism).

[Droopy]

3. 30% is still too much

I think if most people looked at it just from an income point of view the Republicans would be as about as popular as the Greens.