Where's Our Great Communicator?

Ronald Reagan was once referred to as the Great Communicator. Not sure any of the current crop of presidential-wannabes rates quite that high. In fact, I wouldn't give any of them close to an A yet. Here's what I would advise:

• Clinton – Finally found your “voice.” Great. Okay, so you’re under different/tougher scrutiny than the men. Life is tough; politics is tougher. When you teared up and people actually saw your softer side, it worked. That’s where you have the advantage over the “old boys’ network.”
  
  
• Obama – You need to stick with the “hope” message. Down and dirty, even a little bit, is never going to work for you. Tell your staff and supporters that, too. Hillary was right about it taking Dr. King AND President Johnson working together to get civil rights laws passed when they were passed.
  
  
• Edwards -- Biggest house in South Carolina. Dad was a “mill worker” for only a short time. Disconnect between who you are and what you’re saying. Get a message that fits.
  
  
• McCain -- Contrarian, curmudgeon? However you style yourself, it’s working with voters -- for now. Positions that make you look more like a Democrat than a Republican may run out of steam before November, however. Voters have a long memory, and the media is there to remind them.
  
  
• Romney – Prettier than Edwards, but too bland, too nice. Who are you? No message that sticks. Also, unless you plan to buy Detroit and give everybody a job, let’s watch the photo ops in front of the closed auto plants.
  
  
• Huckabee -- What do you stand for? You’re a Baptist preacher. Great. Tell us how that will make you a better president. By the way, we already had one president from Hope, Ark. Who cares if you lived there longer?
  
  
• Giuliani -- When your whole campaign can be described -- accurately -- as “noun, verb, 911,” you’re toast unless you’ve got something else to offer. You’re running a campaign for president, not mayor. Get a message that fits you and the voters. See Edwards and Romney, above. (Note: People DO care about the relationship with your wives. If asked, admit mistakes. If Sarkozy is following your lead these days, you’re both in trouble. Also, he has the advantage in the tackiness sweepstakes because he’s FRENCH. You’re not.)

Last but not least, he's not a candidate but he was a president:

• Bill Clinton – Advisor, attack dog, defender of the Mrs. Whichever role you’re playing, you’ve got to keep it low key. You’re the ultimate politician, but YOU’RE NOT RUNNING THIS TIME, so keep your cool! Don’t become the story.