John Kerry, a gun and a few dead geese: Kerry 2004's presidential campaign staged a photo-op in Youngstown, Ohio, where the then-senator (right) went hunting dressed in full camouflage. At the time, Kerry adviser Mike McCurry told CNN that voters needed to get a "better sense of John Kerry, the guy." Click through the images to see other times politicians tried to be a regular guy or gal.
Their pitch: Just regular ol' guys or gals —
John Kerry, a gun and a few dead geese: Kerry 2004's presidential campaign staged a photo-op in Youngstown, Ohio, where the then-senator (right) went hunting dressed in full camouflage. At the time, Kerry adviser Mike McCurry told CNN that voters needed to get a "better sense of John Kerry, the guy." Click through the images to see other times politicians tried to be a regular guy or gal.
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Mitt Romney, the man worth upward of $200 million and the son of a governor and powerful executive, told an audience in New Hampshire in 2012 that he, too, knew what it was like to worry about getting fired. "There were a couple of times I wondered if I was going to get a pink slip," Romney said, to the collective groans of <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpoliticalticker.blogs.cnn.com%2F2012%2F02%2F29%2Fdnc-romney-out-of-touch%2F%3Firef%3Dallsearch">Democrats</a> and Republicans.
Their pitch: Just regular ol' guys or gals —
Mitt Romney, the man worth upward of $200 million and the son of a governor and powerful executive, told an audience in New Hampshire in 2012 that he, too, knew what it was like to worry about getting fired. "There were a couple of times I wondered if I was going to get a pink slip," Romney said, to the collective groans of Democrats and Republicans.
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After taking shots at Barack Obama for much of the day, Hillary Clinton used a 2008 campaign stop in Crown Point, Indiana, to drink a beer, take a shot of whiskey and munch on some pizza. What is more "I'm one of you" than that? Clinton, however, would go on to lose the 2008 Democratic primary.
Their pitch: Just regular ol' guys or gals —
After taking shots at Barack Obama for much of the day, Hillary Clinton used a 2008 campaign stop in Crown Point, Indiana, to drink a beer, take a shot of whiskey and munch on some pizza. What is more "I'm one of you" than that? Clinton, however, would go on to lose the 2008 Democratic primary.
Carolyn Kaster/AP
When Barack Obama <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fvideo%2F%3F%2Fvideo%2Fpolitics%2F2008%2F03%2F30%2Fvo.obama.bowling.alley.cnn%26iref%3Dallsearch">went bowling</a> in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in 2008, the imagery was supposed to be simple: Obama doing something most Americans can identify with. The problem: Obama bowled a paltry 37 through seven frames. A perfect score is 300.
Their pitch: Just regular ol' guys or gals —
When Barack Obama went bowling in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in 2008, the imagery was supposed to be simple: Obama doing something most Americans can identify with. The problem: Obama bowled a paltry 37 through seven frames. A perfect score is 300.
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By the time President George H.W. Bush faced off against Bill Clinton in 1992, he had lived in the bubble for 11 years -- eight as vice president and three-plus as president. So when he got to the National Grocers Association convention with photographers in tow, Bush was photographed appearing amazed by "some of the technology" -- namely the electronic scanners that most Americans saw every day at the supermarket. While the White House disputed whether Bush was bedazzled, Clinton used it to successfully cast him as out-of-touch.
Their pitch: Just regular ol' guys or gals —
By the time President George H.W. Bush faced off against Bill Clinton in 1992, he had lived in the bubble for 11 years -- eight as vice president and three-plus as president. So when he got to the National Grocers Association convention with photographers in tow, Bush was photographed appearing amazed by "some of the technology" -- namely the electronic scanners that most Americans saw every day at the supermarket. While the White House disputed whether Bush was bedazzled, Clinton used it to successfully cast him as out-of-touch.
Barry Thumma/AP
Most of what Joe Biden does comes off as relatable. But when you are vice president of the United States and a photo of you at a diner in Ohio looks like you are whispering sweet nothings in someone's ear, the imagery might be a bit too Joe.
Their pitch: Just regular ol' guys or gals —
Most of what Joe Biden does comes off as relatable. But when you are vice president of the United States and a photo of you at a diner in Ohio looks like you are whispering sweet nothings in someone's ear, the imagery might be a bit too Joe.
Carolyn Kaster/AP