Is there any potent political resource that money can't buy?

There is absolutely a “potent political resource that money can’t buy.”  That political resource is charisma.  Many candidates who have seemed to be very attractive on paper, and who have had plenty of financial support, have been unable to win elections because they have lacked charisma.

In order to succeed, political candidates need to come across well to the public.  They have to be able to make the public like them or want to be...

There is absolutely a “potent political resource that money can’t buy.”  That political resource is charisma.  Many candidates who have seemed to be very attractive on paper, and who have had plenty of financial support, have been unable to win elections because they have lacked charisma.

In order to succeed, political candidates need to come across well to the public.  They have to be able to make the public like them or want to be led by them.  This does not come easily to everyone.  Perhaps the best example of this in the current election cycle is Jeb Bush.  Bush seemed to be a strong contender for the Republican nomination.  He had experience, many high officials who endorsed him, and tons of money. With all of this, he still did terribly in the actual primaries and caucuses and had to end his campaign very early.  His father, George H. W. Bush also lacked charisma.  This played a large role in his defeat by Bill Clinton, who was a very charismatic and talented politician.

Money cannot buy elections.  It can buy ad time.  It can buy people who will create good strategies for your campaign.  It will buy many other things, but it cannot buy charisma and political talent.  This shows that there is at least one “potent political resource that money can’t buy.”