“In the past, Americans have identified their presidential candidates as lean, mean fighting machines,” said Larry Sabato, a political-science professor at the University of Virginia. “There are dozens of studies of ‘looks-ism’ in sociology and psychology, and how physical appearance affects people’s judgments of other people. And when people are shown blind photos of candidates, they almost always pick the best-looking candidate—male or female, it makes no difference.” But given the recent success on the national stage of bulky politicians, Sabato said, “maybe there’s a new tolerance” for an ovoid occupant of the Oval Office.

“I don’t really know if citizens, whether Democrats or Republicans, want to know what the weight of a candidate is, above which they will not vote,” said political scientist Robert Eisinger of the Savannah College of Art and Design. “Christie and Barbour are certainly larger than typical.” They both appear to be pushing 300 pounds. “Chris Christie is a unique figure. In his victory in New Jersey… it wasn’t that he made his weight the issue, but Christie’s opponent [incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine] tried to make weight an issue [in a television spot accusing Christie of “throwing his weight around” and it backfired. Christie said, ‘I am who I am—love me or leave me.’” (For his part, Christie has denied any interest in running for president in 2012, but so did Barack Obama at this stage of the game.)