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Glenn--I agree with your premise, but I believe this syndrome is also the result of an electorate that makes very little effort to understand who candidates are and what they believe in. Clearly, a familiar last name is a big advantage at the ballot box, as shown in many communities where candidates with the same name are elected, even when they're in no way related to previous office holders. The fact is, an "informed electorate" is still largely absent from the American political scene, and voting for a familiar name is often the path of least resistance and greatest comfort. Politicians trade on "brand" familiarity because it works.
