E lvis Presley may have left the building many years ago, but his impact on the culture can be seen to this day, even in presidential campaign politics.
When former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson dropped out of the presidential race Sunday, Powerline’s Paul Mirengoff said, “If credentials and track record were the key to running for president, Thompson certainly would have been a first-tier candidate.”
I heard the Thompson withdrawal news right after reading that the 30-year anniversary of Elvis’ death Thursday is expected to draw the largest crowd ever to Graceland in Memphis, Tenn. I thought about the presidential elections in my lifetime and realized that the Elvis factor has been a pretty good predictor of the winners.
Bill Clinton was often compared to Elvis due to his Southern roots and personal charisma. When compared with his opponents, George Herbert Walker Bush in 1992 and Bob Dole in 1996, Clinton clearly had the Elvis edge.
I’ve never heard George W. Bush compared to Elvis, but in going against two severely charisma-challenged opponents in Al Gore and John Kerry, the Elvis factor had to be with the Texan Bush.
The Elvis factor is not all about charisma, though. It is also about being an “everyman” real people can relate to, as they did to the poor boy from Tupelo, Miss. George Herbert Walker Bush lost to Clinton in 1992 but defeated Democrat Michael Dukakis in 1988. When Dukakis gave an emotionless response when asked in a debate what he would do if his wife were raped, many Americans decided he wasn’t one of them.
It is easy to see how Ronald Reagan twice won handily. The handsome actor was a master communicator who knew how to talk to average Americans. Before Reagan, Jimmy Carter was an “everyman” from the South. He lacked Elvis’ looks and charisma, but he had enough down-home Southern appeal to defeat Michigander Gerald Ford.
In the current race, Tommy Thompson had the political experience but fell short in the Elvis department. So which of the remaining candidates has enough Elvis in him or her to come out on top?
Mitt Romney certainly has the Elvis hair and comes across as a likable guy running from outside of Washington. Rudy Giuliani has charisma, as well as celebrity status he gained as the high-profile mayor of New York.
John McCain has been able to connect with voters in the past. He leads all other major contenders in Washington experience, but now that could end up hurting him more than helping, thanks to his stands on immigration and campaign finance reform, which have not been popular with GOP primary voters.
The only Southern Republican top-tier candidate is the unannounced Fred Thompson. Thompson does not possess Elvis-like good looks, but the Tennessean does have a devoted group of ex-girlfriends and an ex-wife singing his praises.
Thompson’s former girlfriend, country music singer Lorrie Morgan, has said, “I think he has a great chance of capturing the women’s vote. He’s majestic. He’s a soft, safe place to be, and that could be Fred’s ticket.”
John Edwards is also Southern and has that famous hair, but voters shouldn’t be blamed for wondering whether people who live in a 28,000-square-foot mansion have lost the common touch.
Barack Obama’s pleasant looks and youth inspired a female fan to create a music video, “I Gotta Crush on Obama.” But are youth and being handsome enough to defeat Sen. Hillary Clinton, who has recently opened a significant lead?
At first glance, Hillary is the anti-Elvis because she so different from her husband. But the Elvis factor still might work for her because she’s the only candidate who can honestly say she would bring Elvis to the office of first spouse.
Lorie Byrd is a member of The Examiner’s Board of Bloggers and blogs at wizbangblog.com.
