Valence Advantage, Pt. 2: Mitt Romney

Published Nov 17 2009, 03:44 PM by David S. Bernstein

In the previous post, I told you about my exchange with an academic at UCLA who studied candidate attractiveness. Well, it turns out that when you mention Massachusetts to people who study candidate attractiveness, their minds turn to one thing: the beautiful man with the perfect hair, Mitt Romney himself.

Although the study did not include gubernatorial candidates, Romney was entered into the database by virtue of his 1994 campaign for Senate. And -- duh! -- he turns out to be "among the highest rated politicians in facial quality."

In fact, gushed lead author Matthew Atkinson in his email to me, "of the hundreds of candidates in our analysis," only one scored higher than Romney.

And wouldn't you know it, that one is a likely competitor for the Mittster's 2012 GOP Presidential nomination: John Thune of South Dakota.

I have to think that Romney's going to be steamed that there's a better-looking candidate than him. An empirically, quantifiably better-looking candidate. Ouch!

Deval Stymied

Valence Advantage, Pt. 1: Scott Brown

4 Comments

MARK WEST - FLORIDA said:

MITT IS BETTER THAN MR. THUNE, COME ON?

November 17, 2009 8:47 PM
jess said:

I have to agree. Mitt is way more attractive than Thune.

In fact, all the hearthrob wannabees like Bill Clinton, Mark Sanford, and John Edwards can eat their hearts out. Mitt Romney is not only much more handsome, but he is true to his wife.

November 18, 2009 9:17 AM
torty said:

Plus, Thune, while I can see how people find him attractive, has a certain unhealthy gauntness about his face. It almost looks like he's a smoker.

November 18, 2009 12:57 PM
TaggRe said:

Ted Bundy also was a hot looking guy, and a fellow LDSer. So, on a facial scale, lets all vote for Bundy.

Bad way to choose people on looks, and look what Mass. got with Romney. Enough said.

November 18, 2009 1:54 PM

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Valence Advantage, Pt. 2: Mitt Romney

4 Comments

MARK WEST - FLORIDA said:

jess said:

torty said:

TaggRe said:

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