[espeed]

When George W. Bush was governor, he spoke at my sister's high school graduation (http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/president-bush). His public persona changed significantly from Governor to President, and he definitely played up the everyman persona during his presidency.

While this may have polled well, these type of false personas should have no place in politics. The President is not an actor playing a role -- we should demand candidates whom are genuine and present their true self so we know who we're voting for.

[nostrademons]

But these types of personas always have a place in politics - that's a large part of what makes it politics. If you didn't play a role you wouldn't get elected.

I highly doubt that Obama is the same in private as his public persona - from everything I've heard, he's very much the intellectual, introverted college-professor type in private, and the gregarious "audacity of hope" person is a mask he puts on for public events.

[pjzedalis]

Not an actor? Didn't you know every years we tune into "America's Got President!"