Yet beside Mr Checchi, the presumed politician of the future, Mr Clinton looks almost old-fashioned.

ECONOMIST: Al Checchi, politician as product

Opinion polls show Davis running about 10 percentage points ahead of his rivals, U.S. Rep. Jane Harman and wealthy businessman Al Checchi.

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Mr Checchi's biggest problem, though, is that his political message is little more than a marketer's concoction, mixed together from opinion polls and focus groups.

ECONOMIST: Al Checchi, politician as product