--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think a candidate is electable and…" description: "\"If you think a candidate is electable and has the adeptness to be president, that's one thing. Elect him for these factors, not because he's likeable.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/kayleigh-mcenany-5451_because_if-you-think-a-candidate-is-electable-an_1264920.jpg" --- # If you think a candidate is electable and has the… ![“If you think a candidate is electable and has the adeptness to be president, that's one thing. Elect him for these factors, not because he's likeable.” quote by Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/kayleigh-mcenany-5451_because_if-you-think-a-candidate-is-electable-an_1264920.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/kayleigh-mcenany-5451_because_if-you-think-a-candidate-is-electable-an_1264920.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30a/kayleigh-mcenany-5451_because_if-you-think-a-candidate-is-electable-an_1264920.jpg) > “If you think a candidate is electable and has the adeptness to be president, that's one thing. Elect him for these factors, not because he's likeable.” [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Elect leaders based on competence and electability, not personal likability. **In simple terms:** Choose capable leaders, not just likable ones. Key Takeaway Prioritize competence over charisma. Themes leadership electability politics Mood critical analytical Type advisory political When to use this quote - voting decisions - candidate evaluation - party nominations Key Concepts competence public perception campaign strategy Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess a candidate's competence? - What risks arise from valuing likability over ability? A Different Perspective Likability can mask lack of skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adeptness President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adeptness-president-4033895/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) [Candidate Electable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate-electable-4033894/) [Electable Adeptness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electable-adeptness-4033893/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [Him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/him/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-candidate-1190943/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [If you don't ask for money, people don't think you are a serious candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/if-you-don-t-ask-for-money-people-don-t-think-you-are-a-serious/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [I don't think the candidate would be directly responsible for things that their supporters say, but when it gets to a certain level, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brock/i-don-t-think-the-candidate-would-be-directly-responsible-for-things/) [David Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brock/) > [I still think that with any candidate, whoever gets elected, there are going to be certain issues or platforms that those who feel strongly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-vedder/i-still-think-that-with-any-candidate-whoever-gets-elected-there-are/) [Eddie Vedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-vedder/) > [I think, if you're a candidate and you want to be totally safe, and assure that what you say is not going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-carney/i-think-if-you-re-a-candidate-and-you-want-to-be-totally-safe-and/) [Jay Carney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-carney/) > [I think I might as well give up being a candidate. There are so many people in the country who don't like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/i-think-i-might-as-well-give-up-being-a-candidate-there-are-so-many/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [With 500 channels and the Internet available, you'd think a candidate could get the word out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-king/with-500-channels-and-the-internet-available-you-d-think-a-candidate/) [Larry King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-king/) > [If you think about it, candidate Obama, Sen. 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I found him to be an exceptional candidate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-albanese/i-travel-to-chicago-a-lot-and-i-ve-followed-obama-through-his-senate/) [Sal Albanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-albanese/) > [The point of a presidential campaign is to put the candidate through the ringer: to force him to get banged up by his opponents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/the-point-of-a-presidential-campaign-is-to-put-the-candidate-through/) [Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/) > [If a candidate for president said he believed that space aliens dwell among us, would that affect your willingness to vote for him? Personally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/if-a-candidate-for-president-said-he-believed-that-space-aliens-dwell/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [I know of not one Republican candidate that would not appear publicly with Mitt Romney and I know many Democrats that don't even want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/i-know-of-not-one-republican-candidate-that-would-not-appear-publicly/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) ## More by Kayleigh McEnany > [The coronavirus has yet again exposed the strong contrast between President Trump - who is working ardently for the American people - and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-coronavirus-has-yet-again-exposed-the-strong-contrast-between/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [Unlike the Obama Cabinet, the Trump Cabinet is not comprised of do-nothing bureaucrats, who worked their way up the twisted, scheme-ridden Washington ladder; rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/unlike-the-obama-cabinet-the-trump-cabinet-is-not-comprised-of-do/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [When choosing the president of the United States and the leader of the free world, your desire to have a beer with a candidate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/when-choosing-the-president-of-the-united-states-and-the-leader-of/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [Hope springs eternal, even for hopeless crusades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/hope-springs-eternal-even-for-hopeless-crusades/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [The punditry snicker, the politicians sneer, and the editorialists scoff, but the American people speak and Donald J. 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It is the typical reaction for a party and a media hoping desperately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-left-s-panic-and-politicization-of-the-coronavirus-is-not-unusual/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [History suggests that opposite gender debates, unfortunately, are accompanied by a host of expectations. Each candidate must tread carefully or risk running afoul of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/history-suggests-that-opposite-gender-debates-unfortunately-are/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [We all know the story of the prodigal son. Confident he knows what is best for him, he recklessly squanders his inheritance. The Occupy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/we-all-know-the-story-of-the-prodigal-son-confident-he-knows-what-is/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [Smaller tax refunds are not a bad thing - they're a sign that people are keeping more of their money as they earn it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/smaller-tax-refunds-are-not-a-bad-thing-they-re-a-sign-that-people/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [I live free of fear and full of hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/i-live-free-of-fear-and-full-of-hope/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [In offering deals on immigration, infrastructure, and prison reform, President Trump has demonstrated that he is ready for compromise. 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