In Time magazine’s article “Does Temperament Matter,” Nancy Gibbs questions the character of past presidents and present candidates to discover which personality characteristics guarantee success in the White House. Self-confidence, vitality, steadfastness, persistence, humility and conviction are all traits that our future candidate needs. However, she states that there is no exact equation for a perfect leader. “Temperament is as elusive as it is essential,” Gibbs said.
For candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, temperament has been a persuasive tool throughout the campaign. Although both men took similar paths when dealing with the current economic crisis, Obama’s ratings went up simply because he is viewed as being more capable to handle the pressure of the flailing economy. The voters’ opinion of how well they know and relate to the candidate, in personal terms, will most often trump agreement with the candidate’s domestic or foreign policy. Campaign teams understand that fact and exploit it by taking punches at their opponent through negative campaign ads centered on temperament. Obama, known as the cool, composed candidate, is called “laid-back and unassertive.” While McCain, the fiery, passionate risk-taker is unpredictable and irrational.
What are we to make of both of the candidate’s individual temperaments? Critics of Obama wonder if he has enough fire and passion to accomplish the change he so eloquently speaks of, and critics of McCain claim his temper often makes him a bully who is extremely difficult to deal with. Nevertheless, both men are willing to make changes in order to win. Obama realized his weakness in foreign policy and chose Joe Biden, while McCain decided to court the right of the right with Palin.
Though a perfect equation may never be found, Russell Riley of the Miller center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia insists that he may be close. “’Gerald Ford’s fundamental decency. Jimmy Carter’s discipline. Ronald Regan’s sunny optimism. George H. W. Bush’s diplomatic instincts. Bill Clinton’s intellectual curiosity. And George W. Bush’s dogged determination.’”
