Entries for October 2008

We all knew there was a gender gap in politics, but what we didn't know is that there is also a distinct beauty gap. A new study out today from Northwestern University found that looks matter, especially for female candidates. So maybe John McCain made a good decision in picking Sarah Palin?

Most shocking was the strong language used to describe why men vote for women candidates. "While gender bias related to a female candidate's attractiveness was consistent across both male and female voters, good looks was almost all that mattered in predicting men's votes for female candidates," according to the release announcing the study. (The bold is mine.)

I fancy myself somewhat of an expert on elections, but you'll never catch me calling an election well before voters go to the polls. But now, with less than a week left, even I might start making predictions. It's time for the pros, and the amateur prognosticators, to make their picks. That's why we've launched Are You Smarter Than the Pros?—so that you can call the races and show us up. (Rumor has it my Thomas Jefferson Street colleague Robert Schlesinger will actually post his picks so you can tell him he's wrong.)

So, who will win the presidential election? Tell us at usnews.com/electionpicks and in the comment section below.