Dear Democratic voters, don’t make the 2020 primary a reality TV show

Which is why it’s surprising–and unfortunate–that the single most important question regarding 2020 is the one that almost never gets asked. Of all the would-be presidents out there, who would do the best job?

I don’t mean to imply that charisma doesn’t matter. When I wrote speeches for President Obama, I saw how a president can use inspiring remarks, a well-timed joke, or a viral video to advance an agenda. But charisma isn’t everything. Like just about everyone who has worked for any administration, I realized that President of the United States is a job. It’s a unique job. It’s a strange job. It’s a stunningly difficult job. But it’s a job nonetheless.

And it’s a different job from being a presidential candidate. The metrics we fall into using—likability, media savvy, authenticity, ability to clap back at a Trump tweet or host a livestream—are almost entirely focused on evaluating political skills. Those things are relevant, of course. You can’t do the job unless you make it through the interview. But that doesn’t mean the best interviewer is the best person for the job.