Presidents "R" Us?

The current crop of presidential hopefuls breaks new demographic ground

Date published: 10/24/2007

IT'S A SIGN of changing times when the next president of the United States is very likely to be one of the following: a woman, an African-American, a smoker, a Mormon, a divorce, or an older gentleman with a younger wife.

For America to break new demographic ground in presidential contests, of course, is hardly unusual--John F. Kennedy was a Roman Catholic, Richard Nixon a Quaker, and Ronald Reagan a former actor--but it's striking to see so many leading candidates with so many characteristics that, in different eras, would have been considered baggage, rendering their candidacies null and void.

Does this mean America has become a society where voters focus solely on the issues? If you believe that, the Easter Bunny has a nice bridge in Brooklyn for sale at an interest-only mortgage rate. No, there will be plenty of folks in 2008 who can't get past Hillary Clinton's gender, Barack Obama's color or his smoking habit, Mitt Romney's religion, Rudy Giuliani's prior marriages, or the comparatively young age of Fred Thompson's bride. Still, that each of these is a leading candidate for the highest office in the land does suggest that Americans are a less prejudiced lot than in times past--at least publicly.

Perhaps many citizens don't want a plastic president, but one who more closely resembles the rest of us mortals. In that sense, the top tier on both sides fits the bill. Of course, there's still a chance for the pretty boy who favors $400 haircuts, too.

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Date published: 10/24/2007

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