I think one of the biggest misconceptions out there is that having a long resume of public service at the national level better qualifies a person for the US Presidency. There are just way too many counter-examples in history. One of the best is Bush Senior. In 1988 he looked emminently qualified on paper and yet 4 years later the American people emphatically disagreed and sent him packing...

I still remember that dude gaping with apparent wonder and amazement at a simple price scanning device at a supermarket checkout lane. All his years in government had simply left him unaware and out of touch with the day-to-day experiences of average Americans struggling to make ends meet in a tough economy...