RUBIO RATED TOP GOP COMMUNICATOR – AT 11:06 A.M. ET:   Earlier this week I suggested raising Marco Rubio, the new Republican senator from Florida, and everyone's candidate for vice president, to the presidential level, where his communications skills could give the GOP a presidential victory in 2012.  Now we have new ammunition.  From Newsmax: 

Marco Rubio, Haley Barbour, and Mike Huckabee are the Republicans most likely to defeat President Obama in 2012, according to a new analysis of their communications skills.

Former ABC and CNN journalist Brad Phillips — president of Phillips Media Relations, a media training firm — rated more than a dozen likely GOP candidates, plus Obama, on the seven traits he says all winning presidential candidates have had since 1980.

“Most pundits analyze a general election by looking at the same old measurements, such as unemployment data, consumer confidence, and early polling,” Phillips said.

“But they always miss a reliable predicator: The more gifted media spokesperson has won every presidential election since the beginning of the 24/7 media age in 1980.”

The candidates were evaluated on these seven criteria, Phillips said on his Mr. Media Training website:

The candidate with the clearest message has always won (since 1980).
The candidate who articulated the clearer vision has always won.
The sunnier candidate with the more optimistic message has always won.
The candidate whose message is best aligned with constituent concerns has always won.
The more charismatic candidate has always won.
The candidate who appeared most comfortable in his skin has always won.
The candidate who uses the most plain-spoken language has almost always won.
Based on these criteria and a review of television interviews, Phillips gives Obama an A for his communications skills in October 2008, but only a C for his skills now.

Incoming Florida Sen. Rubio gets an A, while Mississippi Gov. Barbour and former Arkansas Gov. Huckabee rate an A-minus.

COMMENT:  For the record, Phillips gave Mitt Romney, the man "next in line," a B-minus.

Rubio is a remarkable speaker.  As we wrote in our earlier post this week, he could lock up Florida and, being Hispanic himself, could cut into the traditionally Democratic Hispanic vote, which could make a decisive difference.

The name of the game is "win."   There is no prize for second place.  Rubio, in my view, could defeat Obama, who will be a formidable candidate, even if conditions in the country are less than ideal.  I don't Romney could come close.  Huckabee and Barbour are good men, but I think they'd have a tough time climbing out of their regional base.  That's unfair, but it's the reality. 

Rubio.  Make a note.

December 19, 2010