Who should run for political office?

Last Friday evening, we attended a political rally in which we were to meet all candidates of the party sponsoring the event.

After we met the rooster of individuals running for the upcoming November election, I started to think who were the ones that had the best quality for successfully waging and wining this fall's campaign.

That led me to think about the indispensable qualities such a candidate must bring to the table:
1. A blend of Confidence, Assertiveness and Charisma
2. A thorough understanding of the Goals and Message (the product)
3. An Optimistic and Positive outlook
4. A dedication to Persistence and Tenacity
5. A sharp sense of Focus and Single-mindedness
6. A real sense of Empathy and Listening abilities

These traits are general found in any great salesperson and it might be that politics is the ultimate sales arena with the inherent intangibility of the proposition that needs to be sold.

Short of possessing this qualities, I truly believe any candidate will have a hard time succeeding in any political endeavor.

What do you think?