Selection of Running Mates by Nominees

[Mike03]

Does anyone know if, historically, winners of the early primaries look seriously at the other candidates who have not earned as many votes when they are seeking a running mate? I don't remember if Lieberman ran for president when Gore selected him, or whether Gore was running when Clinton picked him.

Do you think that whomever wins the nomination might select as VP candidate one of the other candidates in this race?

Any predictions?

[SaveElmer]

1. It does happen...

Reagan picked Bush...but I doubt we will see that here...

[pstans]

2. Richardson tops VP choice for Clinton, Obama, and Edwards

I think Richardson would be at the top of the list of VP choices for each of the top 3 candidates.

Other possibilities for Hillary would be Wesley Clark, Evan Bayh, Ted Strickland, and Tom Vilsack.

I don't have as many ideas for Obama and Edwards. For Obama maybe Jim Webb or Biden. For Edwards, maybe Russ Feingold. I do think Richardson would be ideal for either of them.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. More often than not, it's not a primary rival

Reagan picked Bush - that's the only example I can think of from the last 50 years.

Among Dems, Kerry picked Edwards, and Kennedy picked Johnson.

I might've missed some, but nonetheless, it's pretty rare. It leads to lots of problems to select somebody who just tried to beat you. Too much "on the record". Reagan/Bush took a lot of heat for "voodoo economics".

[AlGore-08.com]

4. Gore did not run in 1992 because his son had been hit by a car and almost died

Lieberman did not run in the 2000 primary.

Lloyd Benson (Dukakis's running mate) did not run in the 1988 primary.

Geraldine Ferraro (Mondale's running mate) did not run in the 1984 primary.

Walter Mondale did run in the 1976 primary and ended up as Jimmy Carter's running mate that year.

Each election is different and each nominee has different weaknesses (perceived and real) that the running mate needs to (at least appear to) compensate for.

I doubt that any of the top three candidates would choose another in the top three as a running mate. They all have a similar lack of experience in Federal office, and having two candidates on a ticket who could be labeled "inexperienced" would be difficult to refute.

One of the top tier might pick one of the bottom tier, but my money is on somebody who has sat out this primary, to try and gin up excitement. (Additionally, it's hard to argue that your running mate will increase your vote total when they've just lost an election.)

[rpannier]

5. LIEberman didn't run in '00

I thought it was just Al Gore and Bill Bradley

[IndianaJones]

6. I'd like to see Clinton go with Gen Clark. nt.

[Mike03]

7. Thanks for the excellent info.

The reason I asked is because I know only one Dem can win the nomination, but I like a number of them very much and would like to see them combine to make a strong team. There is bad blood between some of them, but in other cases, candidates have gone out of their way to keep things copacetic.

Honestly, I like many of our nominees. Even though, like everyone, I have my favorite, I would not be ashamed to see any one of them nominated, but it would be doubly nice if he/she would select among the other dem candidates.

Thank you: I appreciate the thoughts.

[mtnsnake]

8. Depending who wins, it'll be Hillary/Clark or Edwards/Feingold or Obama/Lieberman (his mentor)

[Colobo]

10. Obama/Lieberman? You know that won't happen.

[catnhatnh]

9. Well G.W. had Cheney pick his....

I wonder if Lieberman is available to help with ours....

[FrenchieCat]

11. Last I heard, the Veep didn't matter.......

or that is what JE'08 says about K/E '04.

[CK_John]

12. All 3 VP nominees will be women. n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

13. Could be

Other than Hillary, list some. That's an interesting thought.

I can't see Hillary taking the VP slot and don't see her picking a woman if she gets the nomination.

I like the idea of a woman for VP if Hillary's out of the loop.

[CK_John]

14. GOP will go with Cheney(Lynne),IND will go with Gates(Melinda) and Hillary will go with K Sebelius.

[ronnykmarshall]

15. Oh.

You're being a smart ass!

Love it!

[CK_John]

17. No, I have posted this for months. It's is how I think it will play out. n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

18. Could be.

With this year .... ya never know.

Maybe ol' Libby Dole might show up. Whadda think?

Since '76 it's been a Dole or a Bush on the GOP side.

[CK_John]

19. She is not tough enough and Dick will not leave his bunker without a fight. n/t

[question everything]

16. Sometimes. Lyndon Johnson ran in 1960

Papa Bush ran in 1980.

I think that it is better that they do not select from former rivals. After all the attacks against each other, all of a sudden they have to smile and appear as one ticket - unless they think that this person can add to the ticket: Johnson brought Texas in 1960, and Edwards was expected to bring the South.

I don't see any of the current candidates complementing each other for a ticket, they have too much in common: five current and former Senators, six, if you count Gravel.

I would love to see Wes Clark on the ticket - of any of them, even though right now he is in the Clinton camp.