With all due respect. (Doesn't that belong on another thread?)

Reagan presented to the public well, was glib, and probably a nice guy. And he really didn't have a center. He was led around by Nancy, her astrologer, and business interests. His cabinets and appointments were predominately business interests as was his agenda.

George H. W. Bush again was a guy who presented well. The views of him by his political contemporaries is not flattering. He was parked as Ambassador to China when it seemed he was owed something and people wanted to get him out of the way, and the same with the CIA. Considered a lightweight. He was embarked on his own agenda solidifying the Bush relationship with the Saudis, and taking after Noriega when his, Noriega and the CIAs relationships were embarrassing. I don't think he was his own man, however.

Dole had sold out to big businesses long before, through himself and his wife. Was a puppet.

McCain seems to be his own man. An exception here.

I do think that the bigger individual money and the mega-corporations tend to figure they will wait until the primaries are over and then elect whoever gets nominated. And that the Democratic candidate can't get elected without their support, either, so in the longer run it makes very little difference to them.