Abe Lincoln, being a man of integrity would not appeal to todays voters, remember that back in 1860 women could not vote, so his looks would definitely destroy his chances.
The story goes that while out riding Lincoln happened to be riding in a lane where there was very little room for travelers to pass each other, a .... coming from the opposite direction saw him and exclaimed, "you are the ugliest man I ever saw"
Lincoln replied that he could not help it, she retorted, "well at least you could not go out in public".
The story of Lincolns honesty in walking miles to return a few cents owing to a customer would not resonate with todays voters who are steeped in the ethics of buyer beware and many would look at such honesty as being pathological.
Todays campaigns see the narcissistic contenders all outdoing one another in blowing their own horns, Lincoln in a campaign note once told the voters, that being used to disappointment he would understand their not electing him.
Even some of the phrases from his speeches would not resonate with voters who respond to phrases like "read my lips," or "hope and change", with malice towards none and with charity towards all would be rejected by the right as endorsing welfare and would be rejected by the left as being too wishy washy.
Lincoln supported a protective tariff, that would eliminate millions of dollars of funding by multinationals.
Lincoln today could not be elected to a minor seat on any gummint body, much less a national office.
But a John Wilkes Booth, an actor who could deliver lines, one who could be the darling hearthrob of the majority who vote, he would have a pretty good chance today.
)
