Perhaps it’s time to reframe the question. The constant political polling, and monitoring of the lengthy nomination process, leads to a lot of rehashing in political reporting. For example, this week, now that it looks like (as it has for a long time) that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will indeed be the nominees for president, much fuss and focus has revolved around the question of their “likeability,” or rather, their “unlikeability.” Which, according to any given article, is unprecedented. No presidential candidates have ever been more disliked.
Of course, that assumes that pollsters have always asked voters which candidate they liked best, as opposed to which one they think is most qualified, or more simply, which one they will vote for. Regardless, let’s face it, this emphasis on “unlikeability” doesn’t reflect well on voters, the media, pollesters or politicians. It’s boring, we know, but it’s time to turn our attention to which candidate is the most qualified for the job.
While some elections are infused with passion, or hope, for a particular candidate; Bill Clinton and Barack Obama come to mind, personal charm can’t be a requirement for seeking office. (Or the lack thereof a barrier to getting elected.) We are not, and cannot be, that shallow. This is not “American Idol.” When it happens that a candidate is personable and competent, great. But it’s not going to happen every time, so let’s get over the expectation.
A CBS report, “2016: The year of the unlikable candidate?” found (like other polls) that Clinton and Trump are the least popular likely party nominees in decades. So political pundits predict a particularly nasty election, as the unlikeable candidates try to make their competitor seem even more unlikeable than they are… Meanwhile, an ABC/Washington Post poll released Sunday asked people whether they were voting for their candidate or against the other candidate. Approximately half of each candidate’s supporters said they were voting to vote against the other candidate. A true grudge match.
(Since people don’t like either candidate, maybe the truth is that they are actually looking forward to the nasty campaign many predict.)
But maybe, just maybe, we can move past the (un)popularity contest. Since it’s a matter of record that Clinton and Trump are the most “unlikeable” candidates in generations, let’s stop polling people on that particular question. Maybe the media and pollsters can ask questions about issues and policies. Maybe the idea of “competency” could replace the obsession with “likeability.” We are electing the president of the United States, not voting for prom king (or) queen. Let’s let the vitriol go. Who knows, maybe we’ll like it.
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