Are Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney Getting Closer to Saying “I do”?

Another aspect of understanding online political content is that it allows you to determine how well two individuals will get along politically. We demonstrated the ability to determine who would partner with whom in 2004 (see Reading Virtual Minds), the question was moot in 2008 and we’re taking a look again here in 2011.

This time we’re using NextStage’s Compatibility Gauge (NSCG), a tool being used by clients to help them create online communities for testing purposes, populating work and study groups, determining who’ll be good incoming management for existing teams, researching brands and fans, developing brand persona to match consumer persona, etc. We’re hoping that tool will become public in a few months and are premiering it here because it’s nice to see who’ll get along with whom, don’t you think?

From the NSCG website, “This gauge indicates how compatible two things are …based on what you analyzed. Accuracy increases the more samples you test, so if you don’t like these results, send through a few more things. If the results stay low, maybe you should rethink your involvement. On the other hand, if the results improve, particularly if they improve over time, perhaps this is a match.

Final note: NSCG makes use of Rich Personae in its determinations. You can learn more about Rich Personae in The NextStage KnowledgeShop or at The NextStage PersonaScope.

How Compatible was Romney in Jan 2011 to Palin today (10 June 2011)

While closer than some, 37.52% doesn’t make for good political bedfellows. Note that NSCG didn’t make any statements about emotional compatibility between Romney in Jan 2011 and Palin today, an indication that these two wouldn’t have gotten along at a very primitive level.

SarahPac.com (on 10 June 2011, 9:35amET)’s RichPersona is K11, Mitt Romney’s CPAC 2011 Speech’s RichPersona is V13.

• Cognitive Factors
  • These two sources will probably have some initial confusions
  • It’s doubtful there will be any show stoppers so long as they both maintain a positive attitude
  • And they will agree at a ‘core’ level
  • These two sources will probably have initially be unsure of each other and ask for repeated clarifications
  • It is suggested there be an informal meeting where they get to know each other casually before a formal meeting where work needs to get done
  • These two sources will probably get along well socially and in small-talk
  • They can be left alone together but neither would especially like it
  • But don’t expect anything useful to be accomplished, even in that small-talk
• Behavioral Factors
  • Dominance games will break out at some point in time, probably instigated by Sarah Palin
  • At some point Mitt Romney will mention that they feel Sarah Palin is a little too manipulative
  • Sarah Palin will attempt to control the conversation at some point

How Compatible are Romney and Palin today (10 June 2011)

Compatibility is 45.85% this time out, an indication these two are getting closer and further evidenced by NSCG recognizing some emotional factors in its analysis.

SarahPac.com (on 10 June 2011, 9:35amET)’s RichPersona is K11, MittRomney.com (on 10 June 2011, 9:35amET)’s RichPersona is K16.

• Cognitive Factors
  • These two sources will understand each other on major discussion points
  • These two sources will probably get along quite well and be able to overcome any confusions with a laugh
  • These two sources will probably get along well socially and in small-talk
  • Given time, these two sources could become friends
  • Very good friends, in fact
• Emotive Factors
  • Stay back, there’s probably love in the air
  • Just give them boxing gloves and close the door
• Behavioral Factors
  • It’s quite likely Sarah Palin will consider Mitt Romney assertive to the point of being aggressive
  • There will be clash of wills or agendas at some point and probably early in the discussion/negotiation

Shown here is an attitude shift — their thoughts on things are coming together. At least in public. Where Romney might have felt Palin was manipulative now she may feel Romney is too aggressive. In any case, two strong wills will be demonstrated in any closed door conversations.

Note that NSCG’s emotional factors for this analysis are of a love-hate relationship. These two may love each other but they’ll have some knock-down drag-outs, too.