A candidate's positions matter less than we think

Some people don't think the presidential candidates discuss the issues enough. While that's important to those who follow politics regularly, I'm not so sure it is for other folks.

In some 40 years of involvement with covering elections, I have found that what matters most to many people is the candidate personally, not necessarily their positions.

In other words, do I like this person?

Perhaps that trivializes the process, but it is reality. It is how we deal with our own social relations on a day-to-day basis.

In my own case, I know that if I disagree with a few positions of a candidate but like them personally, I tend to give them more leeway. Does that mean I end up voting for the person? Not necessarily, but sometimes, yes.

I think a lot of people are that way, except those who are real partisan zealots.