Republicans eventually will choose former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney as their Presidential nominee.
Not because of his political credentials or intellectual acumen. Because of his looks.
That granite jaw, that full head of hair. The twinkly eyes, the aura of a leading man.
The GOP usually picks its candidates because they look like movie stars, warriors or trusted grandfathers.
Why? Duh. Female voters represent most of the electorate, that's why.
The phenomenon began with the nomination and two-term election of former Gen. Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956.
It didn't work for Sen. Barry Goldwater in 1964, but former actor Ronald Reagan got his eight-year starring roles in 1980 and 1984.
George H.W. Bush owes his 1988 success to the selection of airhead Dan Quayle as his veep nominee. Quayle could have been a stand-in for actor Robert Redford.
After that, war heroes Bob Dole and John McCain got the GOP nominations, but not the prizes in 1966 and 2008.
It's not a perfect process, thank goodness. (23 OCTOBER 2011) .
