What does birth order mean for the candidates?
WASHINGTON (CNN) - A new Norwegian study supports the notion that first-born and only children generally have higher IQ's. So it made us wonder, where do the presidential candidates stand in their respective families' pecking orders?
Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, and Gov. Bill Richardson, D-New Mexico, are the oldest children in their families.
Former Gov. Jim Gilmore, R-Virginia, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are both only children.
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut, former Sen. Mike Gravel, D-Alaska, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-California, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, and former Gov. Tommy Thompson, R-Wisconsin, are all middle children.
The remaining candidates are the babies in their families: former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Arkansas, former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Massachusetts, and Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colorado.
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It appears that John Edwards is in the picture of oldest children, but you do not list his name anywhere.
Also, Barack Obama may be a middle child of his father, but he is the oldest child of his mother and was raised by his grandparents as almost an only child. How doe this fit into the birth order?
Is it the sole determinant? No. Is it an important factor? Absolutely. To argue otherwise is to ignore millions of years of evolutionary history. Not that long ago, our ancestors were fending off saber tooth tigers and killing woolly mammoths for dinner. Size and strength in the male were crucial for survival. Smaller males followed the lead of the bigger, stronger males or else they were beaten into submission. Females wanted to mate with the physically dominant male because he could better defend them, provide for them and his offspring would be bigger and stronger, too, better ensuring the survival of her children. This went on for a long, long time and it is biologically programmed into all of us, despite the fact that size and strength are no longer as important for survival today. (Need an example? Think about the women who line up at the hotel doors of NBA players for sex.) At a very fundamental level, consciously or subconsciously, all of us equate size with leadership and that holds true in the political world. (By the way, I’m an even 6 foot, so I have no ax to grind.)
I see that John Edwards is in the oldest Child picture, but is not listed. Hmmmm Why would that be???? He's not listed any where on here. He is running for president just in case you werent sure about that. After all he did announce in 2006 as your news article about the legality of his Non-profits states. I dont know exactly why you keep on ignoring him, but I do have an idea why.
First-borns have higher IQs? George Bush is the obvious exception to this study's conclusion.
Because he's phony bologne. That's why!
I thought Barack Obama's mother only had two children and he was the oldest. Did his father have other children in Africa?
You skipped Ewards name on the oldest children. I think CNN has a bias against Edwards.
I agree. Was this simply an over-sight or is it part of what seems to be a growing trend among the media to exploit Edwards' every weakness.
That is a pretty glaring omission
You are incorrect, Senator Obama is the first born of Ann Obama.
It would be helpful to know if "middle" means second or third, or even a higher number in a large family. Ditto "babies" in the family. That could mean second, third, etc.
I'm sorry, but Norweigian MALES do not, in any way, refelect the American people.
This is total and complete nonsense. I suspect a very slow News day brought about this post.
Very Very Very Slow News Day.
Wow, that means that Romney's older brothers must REALLY be smarter than all the rest of the candidates.
I see John Edwards is in the picture the other oldest "children" but you didn't mention his name.What is the problem that CNN seems to have with John Edwards?You don't seem to mind doing stories that you think make him look bad.