A Playboy magazine poll of 900 adults between the ages of 19 and 64 has revealed that Independents have better sex lives than Democrats and Republicans, and that Republicans have sex more often than Democrats. While Republicans can boast busier sex lives, the Sexiest Former President title goes to Bill Clinton, who was chosen by well over half of respondents at 58.8 percent of the vote, versus late Republican President Ronald Reagan who only garnered about one-fifth of the vote, at 21.7 percent.

 

Sexiest women in politics? Democrat Barack Obama may have Obama Girl’s “I’ve Got a Crush…On Obama,” playing on his iPod, but wife Michelle is no slouch herself. About one in five respondents chose her as the sexiest woman in politics, making her the number one lady to love. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice came in second at just under one-fifth of the vote, at 17.6 percent, followed by First Lady Laura Bush at 16.3 percent. Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton isn’t deemed as sexy as her silver-haired hubby, coming in last at 14 percent.

 

What influence can sex appeal have on voter choices? Communication expert Leslie G. Ungar, president of Akron, OH-based Electric Impulse Communications, Inc., helps executives and professionals hone their leadership performance skills. Ungar recognizes the role that sex appeal plays in the art of reaching people, but acknowledges that is it one of many qualities that may or may not affect various voters.

 

“Sex appeal is one of the many factors that fit under the umbrella of communication. Like all aspects of communication, sex appeal is more important to some voters and less important than others,” Ungar explains.

 

Sex appeal and likeability, Ungar points out, are two separate qualities, not to be confused with one another.  “Likeability, another factor, is more important to some voters and less important than others,” she says. “Many voters want to vote for a candidate that they think is like them…if they ever met them. Most people want to think they have sex appeal!”

 

Sex appeal, Ungar states, is not usually an issue unless someone is truly repellent, a phenomenon which can make some voters uncomfortable. “It is a non factor unless someone is in the negative on the sex appeal scale, then it becomes a factor. Nixon was in the negative on the sex appeal scale, and he had the bad luck of running against Mr. Sex Appeal himself,” Ungar explains, referring to Nixon’s infamous television debate against ladies’ man John F. Kennedy. The televised debate gave viewers the opportunity to contrast Kennedy’s fresh faced good looks with Nixon’s unshaven, shadowy, weasel-like appearance, proving disastrous for Nixon.

 

Of course, when it comes to something as personal as what’s hot or not, Ungar concedes, “What one finds sexy another does not—proof is [Democratic Ohio Representative Dennis] Kucinich finding a stunning wife.”  Kucinich’s third wife, British-born Elizabeth Kucinich, is a tall, striking redhead, twice his height and half his age, and is well-known for her humanitarian work with refugees and the poor.

 

Having a beautiful, accomplished wife is admirable, but when it comes to sex appeal, candidates’ wives must take care to avoid entering bimboland. “Sexiness can be a negative. Look at Thompson's wife. We as a country want our first lady to be Donna Reed,” Ungar says, contrasting Fred Thompson’s va-va-voom busty blonde wife with the classically wholesome television housewife.  

 

Today’s Donna Reed would be First Lady Laura Bush, who enjoys far more popularity than her husband. “She is like the friend’s mother down the street who always looks nice,” Ungar tells demo dirt.

 

What influence can the public’s opinion of a candidate’s spouse have on the election outcome? “If we think of candidates as brands, then spouses become brand extensions. iPods made Macs more popular. Similarly, spouses can make candidates more popular,” Michal Ann Strahilevitz, marketing professor at San Francisco’s Golden Gate University says. “Part of the ‘brand’ of a candidate is his or her spouse and family. Let's face it— we want to like the First Family, not just the President.”

 

Never underestimate the power of a potential First Lady, at least not when it comes to possibly wrecking a candidate’s chance of success. “If people don’t like a candidate’s wife, they will vote against him, while liking a candidate’s wife does not necessarily mean people will vote for him,” Ungar says.

 

“For instance, Thompson’s wife is certainly not helping his campaign. While he didn’t leave someone for her, or have an affair, women don’t want to be reminded that a man his age will date a woman that much younger,” the communication expert contends.

 

And if this were an election for the best First Lady, for the job? Ungar’s vote would go to Cindy McCain, wife of Republican hopeful Senator John McCain. “She is beautiful, presentable, and elegant.”