Encounter with Bloodless Candidate

This afternoon I had a chance encounter on a Morehead sidewalk with Steve Beshear, longtime Kentucky politician and Democratic candidate for governor. In a recent poll, Beshear was at 15% while the two leaders were at 20%. Like other Democratic candidates in Kentucky, Beshear is plausible but uninspiring. He gave knowledgeable answers to questions about retirement funds, health care, and gambling and I thought that his answers were on track even if I'm not a big fan of legalizing casinos.

But Beshear was so lacking in oratorical effect that he seemed bloodless, manniquin-like without being handsome.

Other passersby must have seen the same thing because they tried to donate a little blood to Beshear by talking about how Kentucky could be no. 1 in renewable energy. But Beshear didn't take the bait. He seemed to be creating a deliberately low-key effect to distinguish his competence and seriousness from the partisan bumbling of the incumbent Republican governor Ernie Fletcher.

It doesn't work. Something is missing if voters have to pump life into politicians rather than the other way around.

And something was missing with Steve Beshear.