You hear a lot of talk about conservatives and liberals, but in head-to-head election contests political philosophies are not the most important factor in determining who is elected.

What's that again? Let me try to explain.

In today's political climate, there is increasing evidence that the main thing voters are looking for is not philosophy, but the believability of the candidate and his or her ability to express thoughts in a plain, clear, understandable way.

Two recent examples come to mind. The first is the 2008 Nebraska race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Chuck Hagel. Like many other Nebraskans, I was greatly looking forward to a contest between Mike Johanns, the former Nebraska governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and Bob Kerrey, a former governor and U.S. Senator. Both Kerrey, a Democrat, and Johanns, a Republican, are well known and admired by Nebraska citizens.

But, earlier this month, when Johanns toured the state after announcing his Senate candidacy, I knew Kerrey would have an uphill fight on his hands if he entered the race. The reason -- apparent in Johanns' remarks in McCook and other Nebraska towns -- is Mike's slow, clear way of talking. Nebraskans -- in fact people all across America -- like plain talk. They're naturally suspicious of politicians, so they like it when they're talked to in a simple, straightforward way.

Kerrey, too, has a talent for speaking in clear, honest, understandable terms, but it would have been hard for him to upend Johanns, whose methodical, modulated voice gets through to voters in such a clear-cut way..

The second example was provided last Tuesday in McCook by Tommy Thompson, the former four-term governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Even after a very short time in McCook, Thompson gave a spell-binding speech at the Coppermill Restaurant.

He provided vivid evidence of what it takes to be a good politician. First, he worked the room, picking up tid-bits of information from the crowd, such as the fact that four members of the Navy signal corps started McCook's first commercial radio station, KBRL, in 1946. Thompson also told about an encounter with U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, who was born and raised in McCook.

Swearing it was true, Thompson said he and Nelson were talking at an airport in Washington. During the conversation, the former Wisconsin governor told the former Nebraska governor that his company was considering buying radio stations, including several in the McCook area.

That's when Nelson told him he was born and raised in McCook, which Ben described as one of America's model hometowns.

The meeting proved once again that it's a small world. But, more than that, the story is an excellent personification of what it takes to be a good politician.

Whether you're a Republican, like Thompson, or a Democrat, like Nelson, you must be able to speak clearly and connect with the people who cast the votes.

Frank Morrison, Nebraska's governor from 1961 to 1967, had that ability.

So did Ralph G. Brooks, who served as Nebraska's governor in 1959-60. Both were Democrats from McCook in a heavily Republican state, but they knew how to express themselves in ways that moved voters to cross party lines.

Following up on this line of thinking, I believe plain talk, not philosophy, is the reason that Bush beat Gore, Christensen topped Shoe-maker and Nelson defeated Ricketts.

We, as voters, want someone we can understand, believe and trust. The candidate who does the best job of doing that gets our vote. When you think about it, that's not too surprising, because understanding and trust are also the way we pick our friends and the places we do business.

Political commentators may wish it were otherwise as they rant on endlessly about America's differences, but, thank goodness, the nation's voters still have the final say.