ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the core theory of the book and performs several preliminary tests to assess it. I assert that celebrities are different than traditional politicians, that these differences can be defined and measured, and that because of these attributes, Americans may be more likely to vote for celebrity candidates than traditional candidates. I theorize that celebrity is a potent combination of seven qualities traditional candidates may lack, which I call “The Seven Deadly Ins.” Name recognition, favorability, relatability, outsider status, media attention, a large and passionate following, and fundraising ability drive the appeal of celebrities to the voting public. I conclude from surveys that while celebrities do have significantly higher name recognition, receive significantly more media attention, and have significantly more social media followers than traditional politicians, they are only slightly more popular and relatable. This suggests that if celebrities are indeed more electable than traditional politicians, their favorability and ability to appear down to earth and accessible are not the mechanisms behind this advantage.
