Political Insiders on Rand's "Interview Problem"

The National Journal asked a slew of political insiders, and I mean a slew, this question: "How much of an issue is Sen. Rand Paul's interview problem for his 2016 campaign?":


Those polled (My highlight):

Democratic Political Insiders  Jill Alper, John Anzalone, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Matt Bennett, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bosh, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Guy Cecil, Martin J. Chavez, Tony Coelho, Larry Cohen, Jerry Crawford, Brendan Daly, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Pat Dujakovich, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Jeffrey Forbes, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Doug Hattaway, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Lisa Kountoupes, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bob Maloney, Jim Manley, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Steve McMahon, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Michael Meehan, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Michael Monroe, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O'Donnell, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Jefrey Pollock, Jack Quinn, Larry Rasky, Mame Reiley, Ed Rendell, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, Ryan Rudominer, John Ryan, Michael Sargeant, Stephanie Schriock, Terry Shumaker, Sean Sinclair, Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Greg Speed, Darry Sragow, Ken Strasma, Doug Thornell, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Rick Wiener, James Williams, JoDee Winterhof, Brian Wolff, Jon Youngdahl, and Jim Zogby.

GOP Political Insiders  Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Brian Baker, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Paul Bennecke, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Al Cardenas, Danny Carroll, Alex Castellanos, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Jonathan Collegio, Rob Collins, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Jay Cranford, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Tom Davis, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Debi Durham, Sara Fagen, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Mindy Finn, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Bruce A. Gates, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, David Girard-diCarlo, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Ed Ingle, Jim Innocenzi, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris LaCivita, Jim Lake, Steven Law, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Lisa Camooso Miller, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Kevin O'Neill, Connie Partoyan, Billy Piper, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Tom Reynolds, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Ken Spain, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Terry Sullivan, David Tamasi, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Lezlee Westine, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, Fred Wszolek, and Matthew Zablud.

The results:

DEMOCRATS (79 VOTES)

It's a major issue: 33%
It's a minor issue: 49%
It's not an issue at all: 18%

REPUBLICANS (88 VOTES)

It's a major issue: 30%
It's a minor issue: 43%
It's not an issue at all: 27%

Comments from Democrats:

From those that said it's a major issue

"It will be a major problem if he doesn't get better. He's way too hot for a cool medium like TV. Americans aren't looking for an angry president. They want an effective president."

"His temperament is not built for a national campaign. He blows up in summer and will be out the day after Iowa."

"It shows an arrogance the media will not let go of."

"In two words: not presidential."

From those that said it's a minor issue

"He'll figure it out, and if he doesn't then he's not a contender."

"If he keeps yelling / interrupting women, he will be toast."

"Taking on the 'liberal media' is always popular, but it doesn't have legs in a presidential campaign."

"It's a minor issue now, but if he doesn't fix it, it will be a major issue. The media love to cover themselves."

From those that said it's not an issue at all

"It's a distraction, not an issue."

"It is a long campaign. Everyone will have good and bad interviews."

"In a battle for Republican primary votes, picking a fight with the press is a good strategy. Ask Newt."

"The Republican electorate seems to like the anger."

"Nobody will even recall it by the fall."

Comments from Republicans:

From those that said it's a major issue

"Paul has shown exceptional sensitivity to inquiries about changes in his positions. Journalists like to ask about such things."

"It shows an intolerance for the media and his impatience with being tested with difficult questions. Overall illustration that he doesn't have the temperament to be president."

"It's not an interview problem. It's a glimpse into his leadership style, character, and personality, and people are not going to think that he is fit to lead as a result."

"With such a strong field, you only get one strike, and his temperament might be it."

From those that said it's a minor issue

"It's only a minor issue because it's an obvious problem that can be fixed. But if it's not fixed, it's a major problem."

"Good example of the scrutiny and accountability Rand will get that his father never did—and it's the scrutiny that will sink Rand in this process."

"Railing against journalists won't hurt him with [the] conservative base, but at some point, it gets old."

"The American people want to like their leader."

From those that said it's not an issue at all

"Like Tiger Woods, Paul needs to play his way out of these distractions. Nothing causes folks to forget more than impressive performances."

"Not a supporter, but I cheer him on when he confronts the press on their bias. Many Republicans do."