Yesterday I fell into conversation with a woman of statistical bent, who told me that a few years ago she had done a research project on the results of American presidential elections, with the goal of determining what characteristics of the candidates were most useful to predict the winner. The standard political model is that the candidate who is closer to the political center is more likely to win. The taller candidate also has an advantage, and it's well-known that bald candidates are at a disadvantage. My companion told me two results of her research that I hadn't heard anywhere, and that suggest that the American voter isn't as interested in the candidates' political views as they think they are.
Her research and analysis showed, she said, that voters prefer candidates with larger heads, and with larger teeth, especially large regular symmetrical teeth.
Height, hair, head, teeth: it's not so much the candidates' minds, as it is what's on top of, in front of, and beneath their minds that makes us vote for them.