You've Got Our Vote! The Sexiest Politicians of TV and Film

Politicians. They're the steadfast leaders who help humanity survive an alien invasion, they're the targets who need to be saved from danger by action heroes, they're the people we forget have the same emotional struggles we all do or they're the scheming villains who don't know how to use their power for good. Sometimes, they're also ridiculously good-looking. Here are some of our favorite politicians in pop culture:

Mike Morris, The Ides of March

George Clooney has been involved in more than a few politically-themed films but this weekend we get to see him play someone running for office. In The Ides of March, Clooney stars as an idealistic governor who learns about how dirty politics can get when he decides to run for President, a story inspired by Howard Dean's candidacy. Too bad the corrupt party leadership isn't composed of people who can be charmed with handsome looks and a disarming grin.

Matt Santos, The West Wing

The final season of The West Wing included the election campaign that would decided who would replace President Jed Barlet. (Martin Sheen). It ended in a close victory for Texas Congressman Matt Santos. Looking like Jimmy Smits goes far towards being sexy. But to look like Jimmy Smits and to talk like an Aaron Sorkin character? Gold.

Dave Kovic, Dave

It's a big fantasy to imagine that an everyman can step into political leadership and suddenly make Washington work by using common sense that hasn't been corrupted by years of battling lobbyists, cynical party leaders and ambitious rivals. As unrealistic as that dream may be, Kevin Kline played the role of a Presidential lookalike with such earnestness, it was convincing. Well, it's convincing for two hours at least -- it doesn't hold up when you start discussing it with friends at that after-movie Denny's run.

Then again, it works better if you change the topic to speculating how the First Lady (Sigourney Weaver) could have seen Dave in the shower and not realize he was an impostor. Was their sex life that, er, tranquil or was his resemblance that complete?

David Palmer, 24

After the whirlwind first season of 24, Senator David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) rose to the office of President in the action serial's second season. Too bad, by then, critics had started referring to 24 as a comedy with the real time format demanding more and more ridiculous over the top events and, more importantly, a superhuman ability to deal with traffic.