Word of the Day: Gravitas

Posted on October 26, 2004

Another word that has been thrown around quite a bit during this election, and during the debates in particular, is the word gravitas. Merriam-Webster defines gravitas as "high seriousness (as in a person's bearing or in the treatment of a subject)."

Youthful-appearing Democratic Vice-presidential candidate John Edwards is actually 51, has a wife, three kids, has been a senator for 6 years or so and ran a highly successful law practice. But pundits near and far wondered if he had the gravitas to stand up to Dick Cheney in a debate and to stand up to terrorists (without, one supposes, bursting into inappropriate laughter).

Being the Vice-president of the United States requires quite a bit of gravitas, it would seem. But how much gravitas is too much gravitas for voters? Surely one incredibly serious candidate per ticket is sufficient. If that's true, then the two tickets are perfectly balanced.