Ignore What They Say, Watch What They Do

Tired of listening to all the candidates? Karen Bradley says you only have to watch. A visiting professor in the University of Maryland dance department, Bradley applies Laban Movement Analysis -- a scholarly take on, yes, body language -- to politicians and argues that the most successful are those with a graceful command of space and surroundings -- that thing Clinton had, and Reagan : "They are the people with the ability to connect." (Don't laugh -- she was touting Howard Dean more than a year before his campaign unexpectedly took off.) Who's got the right stuff in key local races? Let's go to the tapes:

Ben Cardin and Michael Steele, NBC's"Meet the Press," Oct. 29

Lt. Gov. Steele talks about setting benchmarks for Iraq. His hands grip an imaginary basketball, and he leans his body and head forward as he makes his points. Bradley likes this: "He's honing in on the issue. Nodding the head, very sincere. He's not thinking [of what to say], he knows what he wants to say. He's highly operational -- he'll drive an agenda."

Then Rep. Cardin, his opponent for the Maryland Senate seat, appears. Bradley stifles a giggle. "He's much less integrated. Did someone tell him not to move?" And yet -- look at that posture! "See that nice little movement upward? He's lengthened. He looks more intentional, more self-referential, more 'I can get this done.' "

Both men wobble -- Steele clasps his hands in front of him defensively while denying he hides from the GOP label; Cardin shrinks uncertainly for an instant while discussing Sunnis and Shiites.

Verdict: Steele's magnificent "shaping" skills could take him national, but this one's tight. "Cardin is stronger than I expected."

George Allen and Jim Webb, Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce senatorial debate, Sept. 18

Sen. Allen is animated, shuffling slightly side to side. Bradley watches his face. "A lot of micro-expressions," she muses. "It's not unlike Bush -- a smirk trying to happen, a wink trying to happen." He comes across as life-of-the-party -- "everybody's friend."

Yet Bradley sees none of Steele's strength or conviction. Allen talks about "taking the lead," but with a weak upward stretch to his left. "No postural support," she sighs.

Webb stands angled back from the podium. His eyes dart around the room. "He's nervous," says Bradley. "There's tension in his neck, vigilance in his eyes, like the enemy is all around." (In another TV clip she's impressed by his horizontal hand motions: "He has the ability to see different options.")

And then, a panelist asks Allen about his Jewish ancestry. Suddenly, his head is down, his torso recoils. "This is a very different person," gasps Bradley. "He's peering forward like he's a little boy who's being teased. It's genuine hurt" -- and it's the most authentic she's seen him yet: "He probably picked up some votes there."

Verdict: "Both have nonverbal deficiencies; neither has the edge."