Candidate Quote by Joe McGinniss
“The citizen does not so much vote for a candidate as make a psychological purchase of him.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Selling of the President 1980, by Joe McGinniss
Voting is driven more by emotional branding of a candidate than by rational policy evaluation.
In simple terms: People choose candidates like they buy a product.
Key Takeaway
Consider the emotional appeal behind political choices.
Themes
politics
branding
psychology
decisionmaking
Mood
critical
analytical
skeptical
Type
political
psychological
observational
When to use this quote
- campaign strategy
- voter education
- media analysis
- public opinion research
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
identity politics
media influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate a candidate beyond their image?
- What role does media play in shaping that image?
A Different Perspective
Emotional appeal can be manipulated, leading to uninformed decisions.
![“And finally remember that nothing harms him who is really a citizen, which does not harm the state; nor yet does anything harm the state which does not harm law [order]; and of these things which are called misfortunes not one harms law. What then does not harm law does not harm either state or…” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a9f/marcus-aurelius-139_citizens_and-finally-remember-that-nothing-harms_3073295.jpg)
