He says he works 14 hours a day, and spending time with him makes it not hard to believe — though much of that work appears to be devoted to bolstering the image that keeps getting him re-elected.
But admirers, some of whom are actively promoting Mr. Bayh as a No. 2, say he could complement Mr. Obama in areas like executive experience and economic expertise, while bolstering the image of a generational change.
Politicians from all opposition parties were also quick to criticise the advertisements as an attempt to bolster the image of Ms Merkel's Christian Democrats with government money.
Another way to bolster the image of the Olympics would be to train the athletes in good manners, suggested Mark Dowley, vice chairman of McCann-Erickson World Group's Marketing Communications Companies.
A high-profile slaying will not help Cape Town's image, said a security expert, Peter Gastrow, but the quick arrest may at least help a little to bolster the image of the country's maligned police force.
Beyond burnishing the company's green credentials, the deal bolsters the image of the Marine Stewardship Council, which has already entered the consciousness of some American consumers through arrangements with Kroger, Costco, Supervalu and Wal-Mart.
Some technology analysts and Apple veterans say the number of patent filings in Mr. Jobs's name may have been lifted, in part, by the company's efforts to further bolster the image of the visionary chief executive.
Should Vice President Dick Cheney, for health or other reasons, opt out of a run for the second term, Mr. McCain's presence on the ticket would bolster the image of the president, which Mr. Bush sorely needs.
And certainly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, many in Hollywood seemed to get behind the president to see how they could help bolster the image of the United States abroad.
And I think plenty of ordinary fans can also connect, however unhappily, with the competitive impulses and anxieties that drive an aging athlete to seek an artificial edge that preserves or bolsters the image of himself in his own mind.
If it works for the cast of MTV's Jersey Shore, can the faux-glow of a spray tan also bolster the image of a newly minted tech founder?
