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Many Americans may think that Mitt Romney's speaking style is how a commander in chief should talk, says John McWhorter, a linguist and political commentator, but that perception -- informed by memories of FDR, JFK and Martin Sheen's President Bartlett on "West Wing" -- is now out of step with what really stirs people in their guts about public figures. Getty Images
Voters have shown they prefer a folksier voice, says McWhorter. Barack Obama comes to folksy cadence naturally. When he sounds preacherly in speeches to the NAACP, Obama is doing just what most black Americans do 24/7, sliding between two ways of talking: vanilla and chocolate. AFP/Getty Images
Obama's very intonation of "Yes, we can!" would have sounded pathetic coming from former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, who lacked warmth on the stump, McWhorter says. Getty Images
For decades, the warmer speaker has won presidential elections. President George W. Bush's Texan inflections made candidates Al Gore and John Kerry sound like schoolteachers. Getty Images
Bill Clinton's light, scratchy drawl created an instant approachability that made his opponent, the first President Bush, sound like a patrician by comparison, and Bob Dole like the Viagra pitchman he eventually became. Getty Images
Still, even George H.W. Bush could manage approachable and "nice" -- recall Dana Carvey's send-up -- compared with Michael Dukakis' beige speaking style. AFP/Getty Images
Ronald Reagan, smiling with a dusting of wry, sounded like your grandfather, while Jimmy Carter, despite the Georgia accent, always sounded a bit sad and sanctimonious and Walter Mondale like your accountant. Getty Images
In an ideal world for Romney, his media coaching would include Henry Higgins-style speech lessons from Chris Rock, left, or Louis C.K. Getty Images
