Tallest Candidate Wins Majority of US Presidential Elections
Latest research affirms our preference for tall leaders
October 26, 2011
At 185 centimeters - 6'1" - Barack Obama was noticeably taller than his 173-centimeer (5'8") Republican opponent, John McCain, in 2008.
When it comes to voter preference, a candidate’s positions on the issues count. But some may check a name on a ballot for a more primal reason: the candidate’s stature.
Researchers at Texas Tech University suggest that height affects voters’ preference in political leaders, possibly for instinctive reasons going back to caveman days.
The findings were published in the journal Social Science Quarterly by political science professor Gregg Murray and graduate student David Schmitz.
"A near-universal fear of snakes and a preference for unhealthy fatty foods likely evolved from a time when snakes were a common threat and caloric intake was uncertain,” Murray says. “We believe similar traits exist in politics."
The authors point to what’s called the "big man" tribal leadership of many ancient societies, as well as the impact of physical strength on status in the animal kingdom. And they note that the taller candidate has won 58 percent of U.S. presidential elections between 1789 and 2008.
Abraham Lincoln, at 193 centimeters, was one of our tallest presidents. He loomed over his second opponent, Stephen A. Douglas, who stood just 163 centimeters.
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