How Does Candidate Personality Play for Voters? Professor McDaniel Comments

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE -- Jason McDaniel, an assistant professor of political science at San Francisco State University, said it’s hard to know how much personality plays into voters’ decisions. That oft-repeated line about voters liking George W. Bush because they thought they could have a beer with him was true only for people who already liked Bush, McDaniel said. Progressive Democrats weren’t exactly lining up for a Budweiser with Dubya. McDaniel said supporters of both District Three candidates will be turned off by bad behavior of the other, but that it probably won’t change votes. “It’s highly unlikely that someone who is already disposed to not vote for Peskin is going to hear the Christensen stories and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to change my mind,’” he said. McDaniel has been analyzing likely voter turnout and said he anticipates older, more moderate voters turning out in big numbers — so he thinks the race will go to Christensen.