Who for Prez? Reagan, Execs Say

Dead Presidents: Talk about being a larger-than-life figure. Most executives would eschew the presidential candidates being offered by both Democrats and Republicans in the 2008 election in favor of the late Ronald Reagan, reveals a new online survey. Executive job-search site TheLadders.com asked more than 1,300 executives whom they would choose if they could elect any former U.S. president. Thirty-one percent named Reagan, often known as “The Great Communicator.” Reagan, a former actor and California governor, served two terms in the Oval Office, including his 1984 re-election win in which he captured a staggering 72 percent of the popular vote. Coming in a distant second was John F. Kennedy, selected by nearly 16 percent of execs.

Executives were virtually unanimous about the import of the upcoming presidential race, with 82 percent agreeing that 2008 is a “monumental” election year. Leading the pack among current 2008 presidential candidates is John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, with 35 percent of executive votes. Democrat Barack Obama gathered nearly the same support with nearly 34 percent, while Hillary Rodham Clinton is favored by 25 percent.

Regardless of which candidate wins in November’s election, 41 percent of U.S. executives expect the Iraq war to be the dominant issue, with about one in three advocating an immediate withdrawal of troops. Reforming health care is cited by nearly 22 percent, followed by the subprime mortgage crisis (19 percent) and worries about the stock market (12 percent).