Would you vote for a political candidate who is a "loser" as a non-political person?

[Boojatta]

I am talking about a candidate who has no record of success in any occupation and who wants to begin to do paid work in politics.

Did Mozart succeed in any occupation unrelated to music? What if some people would be as gifted in politics as Mozart was in music, but they aren't gifted in any occupation unrelated to politics?

[niyad]

1. you mean like george w. bush? of course, he didn't succeed at politics, either.

[Sparkly]

2. To the extent that lack of success in another occupation reflects characteristics

like intelligence, self-discipline, ambition, etc., no.

I'd rather vote for someone who has succeeded in an area outside of politics, but is not a politician per se.

[CBHagman]

3. Well, people have called Harry Truman a late bloomer.

...and that was one of the nicer things they said about him.

Granted, I am not steeped in his biography and couldn't give you chapter and verse on all his pre-vice presidency life. But on paper he was a risky choice -- unsuccessful in his various pre-Senate career occupations, and linked to a corrupt political machine.

He left the presidency with low approval ratings and, if I recall correctly, nothing but his Army pension to live on. Yet I've heard a lot of bipartisan praise of Truman in recent years.

[Jamastiene]

4. Well, I did not vote for Bush in 2000 or 2004.

So, I'd say the answer is looking like no.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. The music thing is not a good analogy

There are many occupations that make use of the exact same skill sets that make for good politicians. Many. So I'd be hard pressed to imagine a person with no track record who was old enough to be elected who could do the job in question. I mean, they could not sell, act, do public relations, practice law, nothing? No consulting, nothing? They could not organize anything, at all, ever?
Don't see it.

[gkhouston]

6. Also, Mozart was a child prodigy. While many politicians behave like preschoolers,

their height would indicate that they're adults.

[stray cat]

7. Unlikely - success in something breeds success