# Could Lincoln be elected today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 7, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512 "2008-07-07T02:13:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512/61 "2008-07-08T18:27:30Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] But he countered being his actually being elite in the meritocracy sense with his “Aw-shucks, I’m just an ol’ country lawyer,” manner and regular-guy sense of humor–he read Artemus Ward to his cabinet, fercryinoutloud. [/QUOTE] He would have played well in the NASCAR South and the union North - he had legitimate rail-splitting railroad-working cred. Yes, it’s part of the Lincoln Mythos, but the man was no stranger to physical labor. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512/62 "2008-07-08T18:59:27Z")
I blame TV: Nowadays, there is a limited amount of news time on TV. The news organisations devote most of their time to the bigger national and international stories, and only a little for the local stories. Back in 1860, this situation was the opposite. More local news, less “big” news. Newspapers were also more locally owned, I imagine. Large newspaper companies _were_ in existance, but I bet that compared to the independent newspapers, the circulation numbers were still smaller. Smaller papers back then (in Illinois) would be reporting what State Rep Lincoln was doing for his community, but today, we get Paris Hilton. Heh. Off the top of my head, I could not tell you who the State Rep is for my district. But Sen Boxer, Feinstein, and Rep Pelosi are much more reported upon. (Am I making any sense?) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512/63 "2008-07-08T19:15:15Z")
Lincoln would be too old (199) and out of touch. He almost certainly had never used a computer. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512/64 "2008-07-08T19:55:48Z")
The Constitution has a minimum age, not a maximum age, for Presidents. And do you think the incumbent can use a computer? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512/65 "2008-07-08T20:19:00Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] He would have played well in the NASCAR South… [/QUOTE] As I recall, he didn’t do too well there the first couple times he ran. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512/66 "2008-07-08T20:27:16Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] As I recall, he didn’t do too well there the first couple times he ran. 😉 [/QUOTE] That’s because he didn’t put a “3” sticker on his carriage. He’d know better now. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512/67 "2008-07-09T20:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] I’m not positive I’m not being whooshed here, but the very obvious answer is Yes: John Edwards. [/QUOTE] Edwards had the magical title of Senator, though, which has always conferred greater credibility for a presidential run. Lincoln’s only term was in the House, not the Senate, and it had ended 12 years previously. I think a politician with that thin a resume today would encounter greater resistance on the experience issue. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-lincoln-be-elected-today/455512.md?page=3)