RE: Don't be like Ozzie

Nancy makes a good point. I don't think you should be like Ozzie Guillen - or Osborne - for that matter.

In all serousness, it seems to me that the candidates who are credited with being "real" are also the candidates who consistently lose at the presidential level (see Howard Dean and John McCain).

On the other hand, I believe we are entering a new era in politics. A post-modern era, if you will. In short, the audience is more cynical these days. They can sense when they're being "spun."

In the old days, Bush's speech in front of a New Orleans church might have been a big hit, merely because of the background visual. ... But Reagan and Clinton have raised the bar. It's no longer enough to have good PR. That might work in the state house, but this is the big leagues.

I think the key for the future is that yes, you've got to have a disciplined message. That won't change. But now, the new skill will be staying on message while sounding like you are speaking off-the-cuff. It can't look rehearsed. It must seem natural. The truth is that there are a limited number of politicians who can pull this off (hey, nobody said this was gonna' be easy.)

Do you agree? Email me: MLewis@CampaignLeadership.com.