Obama's re-election bid: Will being 'cooler' than Mitt Romney really help?
It didn't take slow-jamming the news with Jimmy Fallon to prove that Obama's hipper than Romney, but the cool factor could actually hurt the president's chances
There's a lot we don't, and can't, know about who will be president this time next year, but "here's a fundamental fact of the 2012 presidential race," says Chris Cillizza at The Washington Post: "President Obama is cool. Mitt Romney isn't." Obama slow-jams the news with Jimmy Fallon and sinks three-pointers; Romney sings "Who let the dogs out" and "praises the height of trees." But while that may seem an obvious plus for Obama, Republicans have already started to use his "'coolness' and likeability as a weapon against him," says Jake Tapper at ABC News. Sure, "Romney will never be cooler," their argument goes, but "this election isn't about fun on Jimmy Fallon — it's about competence and jobs." Given the serious problems we face, will it even matter which candidate is cooler come November?
Bring on the boring, please: Romney isn't just square, he's possibly "the least hip presidential candidate since Nixon set foot on a beach," says Aaron Goldstein at The American Spectator. And I say, let's hire him. So he can't carry a tune? "We're voting for the next American president, not the next American idol." Obama gave us enough drama, finger-pointing, scandals, and trillion-dollar deficits to last a lifetime. "Four years of boredom is exactly what this country needs."
"The most boring man in the world"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Don't dismiss the cool factor: Look, "even Richard Nixon appeared on Laugh In," says Matt Lewis at The Daily Caller. And sure, voters could be looking for a "technocrat to fix the economy" instead of a rock star. But pitting President Cool against the GOP embodiment of The Man sure seems like "a PR/optics problem for Republicans." Not only does Romney end up looking like a PC next to Obama's Mac, he looks like last year's model. If Mitt picks a "milquetoast running mate," that seals the deal for Obama.
"The danger: Democrat vs. Republican becomes Mac vs. PC"
"Cool" won't be enough this time: The "cool" factor does matter, in that it's "actually a non-negligible element of the voting choice" for the much-courted millennials, says Alexandra Petri at The Washington Post. But while Obama is unquestionably cooler than Romney, he's not nearly as hip as Obama 2008, when voting hope-and-change was "mandatory." If the under-30 crowd gives Obama "the indifferent shrug" this year, he may very well "win the cool battle but lose the vote war."
"Obama, Jimmy Fallon, and the race for cool"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why is Bluey such a cultural phenomenon?
In the Spotlight Kids are obsessed — but parents get just as much out of the show, if not more
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Is it actually economical to fly basic economy?
The Explainer Airlines have placed so many restrictions on basic economy, you may wonder if it's even worth the savings anymore
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
So bad, so good: the best worst movies
The Week Recommends These films are as enjoyable as they are terrible
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published