Body language experts gives debate edge to Bush

If presidential debates help undecided voters choose a candidate, it will be more because of what the nominees do than what they say, according to a Carson City-based national consultant on nonverbal communications.

Donald Rosenthal, president of Gant & Donald Communications, said Texas Gov. George W. Bush has an advantage over Vice President Al Gore.

"Since 1976, the more likable candidate in each presidential election has won. Bush's nonverbal communication is warmer and more open," Rosenthal said Saturday. "After the debates, Bush will likely gain ground because voters got to compare him directly to Gore."

Rosenthal, who provides nonverbal sales training for companies across North America, developed his expertise by videotaping and studying more than 1,700 hours of interviews.

He was quizzed on the body language of the presidential candidates on the Fox Television News Network show "Fox and Friends" Sept. 20.

"We'd all like to believe we make decisions about candidates based on logical, well-though-out reasons," Rosenthal said. "But 83 percent of what we learn is through our sense of sight. We honestly believe what we see.

"So they send nonverbal signals that appeal to the subconscious rather than the conscious.

"Body language is extremely important. For instance, when someone leans forward, it's a sign of interest or concern. Leaning back shows disinterest or arrogance, both negative.

"In the Oprah interviews, Bush did well. He was sitting on the edge of his chair, leaning forward. Gore unfortunately didn't do well. He had a tendency to be leaning back during the whole interview."

Just as the candidates have coaches for their debate responses and campaign speeches, they have people advising them on body language. However, changing the habits of a lifetime can take a year or more, Rosenthal said.

"Bush's greatest challenge is to have his facial expression mirror what he is saying. That smirk that's gotten so much attention is a sign of nervousness," Rosenthal said.

"Gore's second problem after his body angle is that, in the United States, we don't maintain eye contact for more that seven to nine seconds. If we lock eyes for more than 15 seconds, we're either going to kill each other or get married. But Gore's been taught by somebody to stare at his questioner."

Rosenthal said the personal characteristic called charisma is attributed to people who make us feel very comfortable, usually through nonverbal communication.

"The best there ever was in the age of television is Bill Clinton," Rosenthal said. "'I feel your pain' - He's never said that without taking both hands and placing them on his chest, the left one on his heart. It's a very powerful gesture, though totally artificial.

"These things are all preplanned, of course, staged for the cameras. Another good one is when Clinton leaves the podium at the end of a press conference and the camera trails him down the tiny hallway out of the room. As he steps into the hallway, his head falls forward and his shoulders slump. It's meant to convey the great burden of office.

"And the best thing in the Gore campaign, the best nonverbal gesture, was at the convention when he played tonsil hockey with Tipper. It will be remembered and it was premeditated, a preplanned lip lock."