What people value in political leaders...

Been seeing a few articles lately about the rise of the NDP in recent years, like this one asserting that about "49 per cent of Canadians agree or somewhat agree that Canada would be in good hands if the New Democrats were in office." Here's a brief excerpt (emphasis mine) from some notes about what people value in political leaders:

With the leadership contest in its final stages, Nanos also asked respondents about the qualities they would like to see in the person chosen to succeed Jack Layton. More than two-thirds of those surveyed cited honesty and integrity. Charisma and personality were second, trumping leadership skills, groundedness, compassion, the ability to build consensus, the ability to tackle economic issues and common sense.

Honesty and integrity are always at the top of the list when people are asked what they want in a leader, Mr. Nanos said. Charisma is not usually seen as so important – but, in this case, it is.

Reminds me of Churchill's quote: "democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."