Ranking the Democratic Contenders

[The idea]

A vague description of a candidate isn't good enough. To receive votes, a candidate has to be identified by name. If voters don't recognize a name, then they won't vote for the candidate. In practice, that means that a one-syllable name is ideal and a two-syllable name is acceptable, but anything more than two syllables is just asking for trouble.

Here's how the candidates rank:

Most likely to win: (1 syllable)
Clark
Dean
Braun

Okay chance: (2 syllables)
Gephart
Edwards
Kerry
Sharpton

Poor chances: (3 or more syllables)
Leiberman
Kucinich

 

[Lurker]

Quantifying all president last names including current we have:

One Syllable: 8
Two Syllable: 20
Three Syllable: 9
Four Syllable: 1

Now someone needs to compare this to names in the population to see if it mirrors it or if there is an advantage for certain numbers of syllables for presidential candidates.

Lurker

 

[subgenius]

How about ranking by height?
Between the presidential candidates the taller has won far more often.

My estimates (exact figures unavailable):
Kerry
Gephart
Edwards
Sharpton
Clark
Leiberman/Dean/Kucinich (too close to call)
Braun (pulled out of running today)