My wife and I have been talking a lot about the Presidential field lately. Last saturday we had a big discussion about Hillary versus Rudy. She just couldn't see how anyone would vote for Rudy. I kept telling her that Hillary has been the Wicked Witch of the East in conservative circles for so long that the people who voted for Bush would vote for Rudy (despite his liberal views on several social issues) because they really don't like her. Sure enough we decided to settle this by asking a friend who we were about to have lunch with. He is a west texas good ol boy (my wife is from NYC and I'm liberal in my own right). When asked who would you vote for Rudy or Hillary without missing a beat said Rudy, and then made me laugh by saying "I didn't know he was running." (He's politically acute).

My wife and I both like Hillary. We pine for Gore, but unless he jumps in, we figure she is the candidate that best meets our needs as voters. I think that Hillary knows that she has a likeability problem. And I think she is holding back some, and trying to soften her image. That YouTube video asking for help choosing a campaign song may seem corny, but she knows that she'll need to do that sort of thing to humanize her.

But this election in 2008 is different, in my opinion, than 2000. This election is about serious issues, and I think America will look past likeability in favor of competence. 2000 was on the tail end of the 1990s, we didn't have a care in the world. I'm sure if a member on N'Sync had run for Congress there would be even money Rep. Timberlake from Orlando would have been a reality. 2008 is in my mind much more like 1968. We have an unpopular war going on and a sense that our current administration is incompetent. People then chose Nixon who was less likeable than Humphrey, but people had a real sense that Nixon was comptent to lead. I think that if Hillary taps that strategy of "I'm a good choice for President because I'll make smart decisions and listen to smart people, and we can have a plan for peace" then I think she can overcome the likeability question.