Romney vs Obama the election matching up the two most towering intellects?

[Lincoln Republican]

Will Mitt Romney vs Barack Obama be the Presidential election that matches up the two most towering intellects in the history of U.S. Presidential elections?

If no, please name which Presidential election was.

Please vote and discuss if you wish.

[RogueBeaver]

No. I think Adams v. Jefferson would qualify for that label, with TR v. Wilson second.

[Lief 🗽]

Mitt Romney is of middling intelligence at best.

[Politico]

In the modern era? No question, although Nixon is still the most intelligent president/nominee of the modern era.

All-time? No, that goes to Adams v. Jefferson.

[TheGlobalizer]

Good god no.

[Eraserhead]

Haha, seriously?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Will Mitt Romney vs Barack Obama be the Presidential election that matches up the two most towering intellects in the history of U.S. Presidential elections?

If no, please name which Presidential election was.

Please vote and discuss if you wish.

No.... Kennedy/Nixon... among all the others noted.

Obama is smart, I'm sure Romney is too...

[Oakvale]

I'd hardly go that far - Polnut's pick of Kennedy versus Nixon is a good choice -, although they're obviously both highly intelligent men.

What's more interesting is their temperaments are rather similar, too. They're both fundamentally analytical, intellectual people who seem to disdain obvious (calculated or otherwise) displays of emotion and impassioned rhetoric.

In fact, when Obama ran for Congress back in 2000 he was criticised for being averse to the backslapping banter politicians have to master, much like Romney is today. Obama's obviously greatly improved at that - and, of course, he's a terrific stump speaker - but Romney doesn't seem to have become any more relaxed on the campaign trail despite running for office on a near constant-basis for the last ten years.

[RI]

Not even close.

[Cincinnatus]

No. I think Adams v. Jefferson would qualify for that label, with TR v. Wilson second.

Yes, greats picks.  John Quincy was arguably more intelligent than his Father, but I wouldn't consider his opponents as smart as Jefferson.  As to the OP, no, certainly not.  Obama and Romney have above average intelligence, but nothing relatively exceptional.

[Zarn]

Neither are really dumb or smart.

[tpfkaw]

Haha, no.  That would probably be Wilson vs. Hughes (which also proves the point that intelligent =/= good).

[cavalcade]

No. I think Adams v. Jefferson would qualify for that label, with TR v. Wilson second.

As far as recent history goes, depends on how you measure vs. 1960 and 1992.  Clinton and Nixon > Obama and Romney > Kennedy and HW.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Considering that 1912 had TR, Taft, and Wilson running, that has to be considered the year of the most towering intellect among Presidential office seekers.

Plus as far as intellect goes, I would not say that either Romney or Obama has shown himself to be the equal of any of those of three, let alone superior.  So anyone who answer this poll yes either considered only recent contests, or is a total hack.

[Nation]

Definitely agreeing that TR/Taft/Wilson was the most "intellectual" of all the 20th century elections. Wilson practically is the father of modern public administration.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

FDR v Willkie and Ike v Adlai were also more impressive than Romney v Obama.

[Psychic Octopus]

Romney's probably the smartest candidate the GOP has put up since Nixon, and I think Clinton has more intellectual depth than the current guy.

And yeah, with the possible exception of 1796 and 1800, I don't see how any modern election can beat 1912 in terms of sheer brainpower. 1916 was also an election between two clearly intelligent individuals.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

1912, 1916, 1940, 1952-1960 weren't too bad. 1800, 1860, and 1932 are worth mentioning, too.

[So rightwing that I broke the Political Compass!]

I don't see how you can justify saying Clinton is smarter then Obama.

[Penelope]

No. I think Adams v. Jefferson would qualify for that label, with TR v. Wilson second.

[Gustaf]

Neither Obama nor Romney strike me as towering intellects. I mean, they're both smart analysts but I can't think of any one mind-boggling idea that either has come up with.

Obama during his time in office has basically tried to do what Democrats have been talking about for a long time. I can't recall anytime that I went "wow, he's gonna do THAT?"

Same for Romney, really.

That still beats a lot of other recent contests though.

It's unclear what we mean by smart though. Clinton and Reagan were both very politically gifted, for example, but that's not the same as smart in an academic sense.

[pbrower2a]

Considering that 1912 had TR, Taft, and Wilson running, that has to be considered the year of the most towering intellect among Presidential office seekers.

Plus as far as intellect goes, I would not say that either Romney or Obama has shown himself to be the equal of any of those of three, let alone superior.  So anyone who answer this poll yes either considered only recent contests, or is a total hack.

1912 -- three versus two. 1992 was something like that.

That was perhaps the best election involving qualified candidates in view of what they had done  or would do.

For two -- Ford vs. Carter, 1976? Both had serious flaws as politicians, but they were at least smart and honest. Their skill sets may have badly fit the Presidency, as was the case with Taft.