Is Pete's height a liability in a general election vs Trump?

[Barack Oganja]

We've all heard the stats about taller presidential candidates performing better.

Taller presidential candidates have fared better through history. They haven't always won, but they were victorious in a majority of elections and the popular vote about two-thirds of the time, according to Gregg R. Murray, a Texas Tech University political scientist.

Murray's analysis concluded that the taller of the two major-party candidates from 1789 to 2012 won 58% of presidential elections and received the majority of the popular vote in 67% of those elections.

The notable exceptions to the rule include Democrat Barack Obama, who at 6 feet, 1 inch tall won the 2012 presidential election against Republican Mitt Romney, who was an inch taller. In 2000, George W. Bush won the election but lost the popular vote to a taller Al Gore.

https://www.thoughtco.com/does-the-tallest-presidential-candidate-win-3367512

Pete is listed at 5'8. Trump, who calls himself 6'3, has already gone at Pete about his height.

“I think it was boot-edge-edge, boot-edge-edge. They said ‘think of it as boot, and then edge, edge' because nobody can pronounce this guy’s name,” Trump said, mocking the pronunciation of the mayor’s last name.

The president later gestured to his chest and said “I’ve had him up to here,” an apparent shot at Buttigieg’s height.

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/461222-trump-mocks-buttigiegs-height-ive-had-him-up-to-here

Here's a picture of Pete next to 6'4 Beto

Would this height difference have any impact? Would Trump turn Mayor Pete into Little Marco? Or would it simply not matter?

[Mr. Smith]

John Kerry was taller than Abe Lincoln or Lyndon Johnson.

Ford was taller than Carter.

Madison was short.

[ProudModerate2]

Is Pete color blind?
In the image, the color of those pants do not fit the color of his shirt.

[It’s so Joever]

A bit, although there is definitely some subconscious bias towards the taller candidate (at least in the US) there have been plenty of exceptions and height is a relatively small factor in comparison with things such as the economy, charisma of each candidate, and state of the nation. Maybe in a reeeaaaaallly close election, it could make the difference, but much less so than something like age or gender.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Since when is 5'8'' short? I'm 5'5''.

Even in spite of that, probably. At least for male voters. Men always tend to put idiotic emphasis on height and other superficial factors as being masculine, and therefore appealing. However, most who think like that are probably already predisposed to vote for Trump.

Historical patterns like these are probably more coincidental than anything.

Buttigieg would be a risky nominee for other reasons though.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Ideally he would be defeated because of his terrible political views rather than heightism or homophobia.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Trump's only 5'9 despite his claims to the contrary IIRC

[Arizona Iced Tea]

Trump's only 5'9 despite his claims to the contrary IIRC

If so then I am taller than the President

[538Electoral]

WHAT? Pete's height is the last reason I wouldn't vote for him.

[Hermit For Peace]

Height is definitely a factor. Add to that, he is gay. Add to that, he looks like a kid.

Women like tall men, and so do men, generally speaking. And I base this on years of talking on a forum to short men about being short and how society views them.

I don't think Pete has universal appeal.

I'm actually feeling pessimistic right now...I fear that Trump is going to be elected again. We have a white woman professor who is not used to fighting a dirty fight the way Trump fights, and an old man who makes a LOT of gaffes and mistakes, and another old man who is too far left to appeal to voters in general. We are doomed.

[LabourJersey]

Pete doesn't have widespread appeal, but his height is not the reason.

[Crumpets]

No, because he's the same height I am and I refuse to admit I'm short.

[Senator-elect Spark]

Are Trump’s hands a liability against Buttigieg?

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Trump is overweight, we havent had one since William H Taft
 That's a liability against him.

[ElectionsGuy]

Trump is 6'2", not 6'3" as he insecurely claims. He's clearly a bit shorter than actual 6'3" Jeb! If height was a liability, George W Bush would've lost in 2004.

[President Johnson]

Trump is 6'2", not 6'3" as he insecurely claims. He's clearly a bit shorter than actual 6'3" Jeb! If height was a liability, George W Bush would've lost in 2004.

Donald Trump may have been 6'2 in his thirties, but he's certainly not any longer. Barack Obama is 6'1 and on a number of photos he's either tied or a little taller than Trump.



From Wikipedia, public domain

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Does the hair count if it’s fake?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

John Kerry was taller than Abe Lincoln or Lyndon Johnson.

Ford was taller than Carter.

Madison was short.

In the age of no TV, no debates and no real popular elections Madison's height didn't matter, but you have a point.

[Hoosier_Nick]

I've met Obama and I was a hair taller in our picture and from memory. I am 6' and half an inch. So Obama is somewhere from 6 foot to 6 foot and half an inch. He's an inch taller than Trump. So Trump, by my estimation is about 5'11.5", 6 foot max. Pictures can be deceiving, but he's definitely exaggerating when he claims 6'3" and has probably shrunk as well, too.

I've also met Pete around a dozen times and, yeah, he's 5'8". So maybe a 3 and a half inch difference.

[SN2903]

Maybe a little but in my opinion more his inexperience

[Progressive Pessimist]

Trump is 6'2", not 6'3" as he insecurely claims. He's clearly a bit shorter than actual 6'3" Jeb! If height was a liability, George W Bush would've lost in 2004.

It really is beyond insecure to think that a one inch difference somehow makes him better in some way. 6'2'' is still quite tall. Does he wear lifts in his shoes too?

[Higgins]

Height and hair have been actually been shown to be determinating factors in a close election. Usually the taller candidate, or candidate with better hair, wins.

Take 1976. Ford was taller, but he was also bald. He lost the much shorter, but much more youthful Carter, who had a full head of hair. You might say Ford lost 1976 by a hair.

Nixon lost largely due to Kennedy's better hair and generally more handsome appearance since in terms of policy and ideas they weren't that far apart.

Etc.

[Mr. Smith]

Height and hair have been actually been shown to be determinating factors in a close election. Usually the taller candidate, or candidate with better hair, wins.

Take 1976. Ford was taller, but he was also bald. He lost the much shorter, but much more youthful Carter, who had a full head of hair. You might say Ford lost 1976 by a hair.

Nixon lost largely due to Kennedy's better hair and generally more handsome appearance since in terms of policy and ideas they weren't that far apart.

Etc.

I repeat. John Kerry.

[Higgins]

Height and hair have been actually been shown to be determinating factors in a close election. Usually the taller candidate, or candidate with better hair, wins.

Take 1976. Ford was taller, but he was also bald. He lost the much shorter, but much more youthful Carter, who had a full head of hair. You might say Ford lost 1976 by a hair.

Nixon lost largely due to Kennedy's better hair and generally more handsome appearance since in terms of policy and ideas they weren't that far apart.

Etc.

I repeat. John Kerry.

John Kerry but arguably less attractive physically and came across as older, and remote emotionally compared to Bush.

[SInNYC]

Trump is 6'2", not 6'3" as he insecurely claims. He's clearly a bit shorter than actual 6'3" Jeb! If height was a liability, George W Bush would've lost in 2004.

It really is beyond insecure to think that a one inch difference somehow makes him better in some way. 6'2'' is still quite tall. Does he wear lifts in his shoes too?

dont forget that 1 inch is what makes his BMI change from obese to just overweight. But I wouldnt be surprised if he wore lifts, bone spurs or not.