[Bahbah]

he must elicit something deeper than mere approval.

Well, there is also admiration. Frankly, I don't need to fall in love with the candidate. I'm pretty sure I don't even want to. I want to be convinced they can do the job, cause it won't be easy.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

But you're not typical, Bahbah. If you were, we'd never have had a President Clinton. Not to mention Kennedy, who also got the job by having more irrelevant pizazz than his opponent.
Because apparent youthfulness, wit, a pretty wife, style, and a good shave on tv...are not irrelevant to most voters. There are a lot of shallow voters out there. At least, when they're infatuated, they go out and vote.
It's going to be Romney vs. Edwards if I'm right.