Children are a Political Gift

Even the President couldn't help but smirk at the antics of John Roberts III, the son of Supreme Court Justice nominee John G. Roberts, Jr. Besides his strong academic and legal background, Judge Roberts has something else working in his favor: his two young children. Children, especially young children, immediately conjur up positive feelings from the press and public. Even, or perhaps, especially, if they show their unawareness of their surroundings like John Roberts did Tuesday night.

Young children immediatley create images of a politician as a family man. While Judge Roberts is not running for public office, Josephine, 5, and John III, 4, can only help him in the eyes of the press and public. The general public identifies with a candidate who balances work and family. The 2004 Democrat Vice-Presidential nominee, John Edwards, found his photogenic family worked to his advantage. In the rare case of a president with young children, the president has a uniqe opportunity to form an immediate connection with the American public. John F. Kennedy and his whole family had enormous popularity with the public and the press, partly because his young family was so endearing.

To not tax his children or appear to use them only for his goals, a candidate should wisely choose times to mention his or her children, tell true family stories, or have the whole family attend events.