Running a race or running a campaign?

If you were writing an article about the electability of a politician and their future in government, what type of photo would you use? If it were me, I’d probably stick to a photo which portrays them as they are most commonly seen. For politicians, this would be in a traditional business suit. This makes sense to me, but I’m assuming that the person choosing the photo is unbiased and interested in presenting a fair picture of the individual.

Newsweek recently ran a cover featuring a picture of Sarah Palin wearing short running shorts. The picture was originally used in an article for Runners World. There’s nothing wrong with the photo, and it’s fine for a magazine focused on running a race. For magazines focused on running a campaign, it’s irrelevant and inappropriate. Of course, if the goal is to try and make someone look like a fool and less “Presidential,” the photo is certainly a good choice.

Sarah Palin on the cover of Newsweek