"The Bush II election (the one he won) must have been a combination of fear and personality. "

I agree. There was a fear and as SRS pointed out, a smear on the other candidate.   The other candidate also had difficulty getting his message across and fighting accusations.

Look, I do not disagree that you need "personality" to get a seat at the table, but what you bring to the table is the ultimate decision maker for the voter.

An actor gets the message from the playright or the screenwriter to the audience. How well they deliver their lines determines the success. It is no different with ANY poltician - Obama, Palin, McCain, Kucinich, or the guy running for dog catcher. If they can deliver a message that speaks to what the audience needs, their chances of winning increase.