Republican Presidental Candidate
Ego Me-ter Report (Patent Pending)
Republican Debate October 21, 2007

Candidate

Total words

Total Ego words used¹

% of Ego words to total words

Ego ranking
(most egotistical = 1;
least = 8)

Giuliani

2148²

70

3.2%

4

Huckabee

1092

26

2.4%

5

Hunter

681

8

1.2%

7

McCain

1350

75

5.6%

1

Paul

1407³

16

1.1%

8

Romney

2325

76

3.3%

3

Tancredo

942

17

1.8%

6

Thompson

1715

63

3.7%

2

Source of column 1 information: New York Times

The Table is based on quantitative data and, so far, the author has made no attempt to evaluate the "qualitative" degree of egotism in each instance of using an ego word; only the incidence and potential likelihood of it. But the huge margin of McCain’s "victory" does suggest extraordinary self-preoccupation.

1. Ego words used: I; I'll; I'm; I'd; I've; me; my; mine.
2. 10 words removed from total for candidate not hearing the question.
3. 36 words removed for candidate not hearing the question