According to John McCaslin (of the admittedly conservative website Townhall.com) the height of the candidates plays a real and significant role in American politics and has for the better part of our history. In this article he makes the case that McCain doesn't have a chance if this trend holds true this election cycle. Follow me over the jump and I'll explain with links!!
In a column at Townhall.com, John McCaslin discusses the matter of a candidates height and how it plays in the elections throughout the history of the United States. in the article he states that with few exceptions the taller candidate in the General Election takes the win. McCaslin sites the book, "Project President: Bad Hair & Botox on the Road to the White House" by Ben Shapiro and its observations about image and what it takes to win the White House.
In the chapter "The Long and Short of It," Mr. Shapiro writes that size does matter. He reveals why the taller candidate, from the beginning of American history, has almost always won the presidency. Taller people have a wide variety of advantages in politics, something to do with the fact that being tall breeds high self-esteem and leadership qualities.
Now whether this has any legitimacy or not, it is an interesting observation, in fact he discusses the three exceptions. Jimmy Carter in 1976 was the first since William McKinley in 1896, to win the presidency as the shorter, nonincumbent candidate" the other, GWB in 2000 and 2004 (which may be the best indication yet that he indeed did not win either of those elections:)
Finally lets look at the three candidates currently standing for President
Mr. Obama of Illinois stands at almost 6 feet, 2 inches...Hillary Rodham Clinton measures 5-feet-6, while Republican John McCain is 5-feet-7.
At 6'2" tall, Mr. Obama is indeed 7 inches taller than McCain and 8 inches taller than Hillary. Because there is no previous female contender, there is of course no evidence as to whether this applies across genders. Take a look at this Picture though and see what the match-up between Barack and Mac would look like and draw your own conclusions.