2 - Future Leaders

The other day I was sent out to interview Conservative Leader David Cameron for about the 10th time.

I'd like to say he hasn't changed from his early days as a young, fresh faced MP. But being groomed for power obviously makes politicians think about that dreaded thing... "their image."
Understandable, sure. But ironically it seems to make them less and less palatable, the more they worry about it.

It's not that I don't like him.
I may even vote for him and his party, who knows. I have already tried voting for both of the other parties, so why not get a hat trick?

It's just that Cameron always seems very... what's the word I'm searching for...?
Smooth.
Very rehearsed.

Even so, watching him meet the public, and do interviews with me on a whole variety of topics on a variety of occasions, I am positive I am looking at the next Prime Minister.

And he does the whole charm thing a lot better that Gordon Brown, who I have also met and interviewed. He seemed VERY ill at ease, with small talk, with interiews, with it all - hell, even with smiling.

But Cameron doesn't seem to have the same effortless ease that Tony Blair did. Again, I have met and interviewed the former Prime Minister.
I will not use the word "charisma" here, obviously.

Still, watching all three of them up close is a fascinating affair - especially how they act in the off beat moments. When they think no-one is watching, or they are talking to close advisors. When their public smiles and facade slip ever so slightly.

Cameron's hidden body language always seems to say to me, "Did they like me? Did I do that OK? Did I get all the questions right and am I top of the class? Am I the most popular?"

And I always find it hard to really like someone, who makes it so clear that they really want to be liked.