When's the last time a candidate named a running mate while primaries were still being contested?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

I'm sure it's happened before, and perhaps was more common in the past. But in my own lifetime, I don't recall any major (Democratic or Republican) candidate naming a running mate until that person was the presumptive nominee of the party and there was no active primary campaigning still going on.

[NV Whino]

1. Never, I think

And the party pretty much chooses the running mate.

[former9thward]

8. The party does not choose the running mate.

The delegates choose the presidential nominee and the nominee selects the running mate which is rubber stamped by the delegates. Reagan in 1976 choose Senator Schweiker before the convention but Ford beat him at the convention.

[NV Whino]

10. Let me rephrase

The "party" would be very upset with the wrong nominee.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. I think King Ronnie did when he was running against Ford.

[Va Lefty]

4. That was after the primaries and before the convention if I'm remembering it right

[MFM008]

3. he is delusional

fits.

[oldandhappy]

5. Cruz needs attention and he hasn't gotten much lately.

So fake teaming with the Ohio gov and naming Carly gives him media attention.

[Hortensis]

11. Think so. This is Cruz's version of flying to Rome.

It's way too early to choose a VEEP normally speaking, and it has paid off with attention.

[karynnj]

6. Never - before the 1960s, there were very few primaries/Caucuses

The nomination really did come out of the convention - and usually determined behind closed doors.

Since then, it has not happened -- in fact, it has been considered unethical to actually do this (or name cabinet members).

In this case, as Fiorina had very little support in her own run beyond it appearing she did well in one debate, I do not get why he is doing this. Trump already has problems with the woman's vote - so where does this help?

[former9thward]

7. No, Reagan did in 1976.

He was fighting Ford and named Senator Schweiker of PA before the convention. When Reagan won in 1980 he became Reagan's HHS Secretary.

[karynnj]

9. Thanks - I never knew that

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. CNN said earlier that Reagan did in 76 nt