Democratic Insiders Poll

by James A. Barnes and Peter Bell

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008


Q: Whom is Obama most like -- John F. Kennedy, Jackie Robinson, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter or Colin Powell?

(73 votes)
John F. Kennedy           47 percent
Jimmy Carter              15 percent
Colin Powell              11 percent
Bill Clinton               8 percent
Jackie Robinson            8 percent
He's unique (volunteered)  5 percent

Also receiving votes: None of the above, 3 percent; a combination of Carter and Kennedy, 1 percent; and Tiger Woods, 1 percent.

John F. Kennedy

"Like JFK, Obama is charismatic and represents a generational changing of the guard."

Bloggers PollNational Journal has invited top bloggers to join in its survey of insiders for the Democratic and Republican conventions.

"And the torch is passed to a new generation."

"A young, charismatic figure who represents generational change."

"Like Kennedy, Obama is a barrier-breaking, once-in-a-generation leader."

"I believe that he has captured the imagination of a new generation, as John F Kennedy did."

"Obama will inspire a whole new generation."

"Both are creatures of the mass media, and built campaigns based on generational politics."

"Cool, but charismatic."

Jimmy Carter

"Carter had a reform message, too, and had a hard time connecting with the middle class."

"Depends on which O. we get -- the O. from the primary was JFK, the O. over the last month or so has been Jimmy C., which, if it continues, will make him more like Al Smith. Jackie Robinson may have looked the other way when he was attacked, but when the game was tied he would steal home with his spikes high and sharp. Obama needs to run his campaign based on the Jackie Robinson model: Project the 'hope' brand, but don't forget what it takes to win."

"Jimmy Carter so far. If elected, hopefully the comparison ends."

Colin Powell

"Both men are appealing, charismatic, and intelligent trailblazers, but also cautious and
sometimes overconfident."

"[Like] Powell, he is an accomplished pathfinder."

"He is his own phenomenon. But of this group, Colin is the closest."

Bill Clinton

"Obama's similarities to 1992's Bill Clinton may be the source of their mutual discomfort. Bright, self-assured, and clearly capable of winning the election and governing, Obama seeks nothing short of supplanting Bill as a leader toward electoral success but a president we can be proud to follow."

Jackie Robinson

"Jackie Robinson is the closest comparison: [Obama's] nomination is historical, and if he wins, his victory will be felt way beyond politics both home and abroad."

He's unique

"He is a unique character in American politics, a first."

"Barack Obama is an American original, a true icon."

We also asked prominent bloggers this question.

Democratic Political Insiders: Karen Ackerman, Jill Alper, David Axelrod, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Deb Callahan, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Jim Craig, Jerry Crawford, Stephanie Cutter, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Michael Donilon, Tom Donilon, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Eric Eve, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Gordon Fischer, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Don Fowler, Gina Glantz, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Michael Gronstal, Marcia Hale, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Mike Henry, Leo Hindery, Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Shar Knutson, Kam Kuwata, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Sylvia Larsen, Jeff Link, Bill Lynch, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Terry McAuliffe, Caroline McCarley, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Scott Parven, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, John Podesta, Tony Podesta, Bruce Reed, Mame Reiley, Steve Ricchetti, Susan Rice, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, John Ryan, Wendy Sherman, Terry Shumaker, Phil Singer, Bob Slagle, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Darry Sragow, Karl Struble, Katrina Swett, Sarah Swisher, Eric Tabor, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Mike Veon, Rick Wiener, Bridgette Williams, JoDee Winterhof, and Jim Zogby.

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