Key Characteristics Voters Seek in a Presidential Candidate
The President is the head of state; he is entrusted with the task of governing the country and, thus, the well-being of the entire nation. The President is a unique politician whose decisions determine the lives of millions of people (Greenberg & Page, 2018). He must capture this commitment as well as the pulse of the times and his people. As a result, voters seek personal and professional traits in a candidate, such as honesty, communication, dedication, and business professionalism (Porpora & Sekalala, 2019).
Influence of Socioeconomic and Political Context on Voter Preferences
Support of Youth
In a presidential candidate, people want to see the ability to understand problems in all spheres of activity – from the economy to agriculture. The country’s administration should prioritize the most critical responsibilities, such as the development of the new generation in academics and sports (Moradi et al., 2023). Young people should strive to get an education, get a decent job, and play sports to be strong in spirit and lead a healthy lifestyle. Voters also look for a candidate who is interested in the problems of society and the accessibility of medicine for people.
Support of the Elderly
Another important aspect that should be implicit in the presidency’s intentions to win the votes of the electorate is the interest in improving the lives of pensioners—to increase pensions in time, create conditions for small and medium-sized businesses, and maintain friendly relations with other countries. As discussed in the course, each party should have its own point of view, which it will put into practice (Greenberg & Page, 2018). This is the only way to gain the trust of the general public.
Environmental Concerns and Economic Challenges
A country’s socioeconomic status significantly impacts the criteria guiding voters in choosing a president. The external aspects of the problem that are important now shape the criteria of the president. For example, to solve environmental problems, a presidential candidate must be interested in doing so.
The same can be said for other problems such as COVID-19, riots, conflicts, and lack of jobs. To deal with pandemic issues, candidates want to see a presidential candidate interested in improving health care. To improve the social condition of the country, the candidate should desire to reduce the problem of lack of jobs and wipe out crime.
References
Greenberg, E. S., & Page, B. I. (2018). The struggle for democracy, 2018 elections and updates edition (12th ed.). Pearson Education (US). Web.
Moradi, E., Ehsani, M., Saffari, M., & Norouzi Seyed Hosseini, R. (2023). How can destination competitiveness play an essential role in small island sports tourism development? Integrated ISM-MICMAC modelling of key factors. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 6(3), 1222-1252. Web.
Porpora, D., & Sekalala, S. (2019). Truth, communication, and democracy. International Journal of Communication, 13, 18.