If likeability were enough to get you into the Oval Office, South Carolina senator Tim Scott would be wrapping up his second term right now.
The fact that Scott isn’t in his second term in the White House, and is in fact way behind in the field so far, is a good indicator that when it comes to running for president, it’s not enough to be likeable or “nice.” To win a party’s nomination, you need to be more than just liked. You have to be people’s favorite. People only get one vote in a party primary. They have to like you more than any other option. Cycle after cycle, you see not-that-well-known candidates jump into the presidential race, convinced they’re the next Big Thing, only to prove that they had all the sharp edges of soft-serve ice cream.
Jim Gilmore. George Pataki. Gary Bauer. Duncan Hunter. Tommy Thompson. They all thought they heard America calling, but it turned out to be a wrong number.
If you’re running for the GOP nomination, and you make it onto the debate stage tonight, you had better come onto that stage with some passion. You had better have some unique, memorable, or particularly compelling ways of articulating your message. Because the stances you take probably won’t be all that unique. You want to secure the border? Great, so does every other candidate. You want to reduce crime and give parents more choices in their kids’ education? Great, but every other candidate is going to say the same thing. Tell us what’s unique about you, a trait or accomplishment or relevant experience that no rival has.
Tonight, the debate stage will feature Scott, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, and biotech entrepreneur and political commentator Vivek Ramaswamy. Hopefully, by the time it ends, all of them will have justified their presence on that stage.
Don’t get me wrong. There’s plenty to admire in the likes of Burgum and Scott. But this is the American presidency you’re running for, gentlemen. Don’t assume that the viewers at home have heard a lot about you, or know what you did when you were governor a few years ago, or know the names of the legislation you’re so proud to have supported. (“Dingell Norwood! Dingell Norwood!”)
The third debate isn’t until November 8. Anybody still in the low single digits is in danger of not making that next debate stage. All of these candidates have been running for a while now. If you couldn’t catch fire in either of the two debates… is it ever going to happen?