Rich politicians OK with common touch

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. political candidates can be acceptable if rich but not if seen as out of touch, say analysts.

Recent slips by Republican presidential hopeful John McCain such as failing to recall how many houses he owns and saying it takes $5 million to be considered rich have reignited the issue in his race against Democratic rival Barack Obama, the San Diego Union Tribune reported Saturday.

But observers say if there is lasting impact it will not be because of the obvious wealth of McCain and his heiress wife Cindy, or that of Obama, who reported an income of $4.2 million in 2007.

"They are both loaded compared to 95 or 97 percent of all Americans," said Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor of education and history at New York University who added that Americans "like to imagine their leaders once came from log cabins" and made good. However they then worry that their leader's common touch will be affected by their new wealth.

Maintaining that confidence will be the real test for both McCain or Obama, say analysts.

"Americans don't mind rich people," pollster John Zogby said. "They don't begrudge wealth. But they do expect their leader to feel for them and understand them."