What's a more important quality for a VP candidate...

[neoteric lefty]

a man who can help gain votes in the G.E. (maybe deliver you a swing state or two) or a man (or woman) who would best be able to handle being the president if Kerry would, by some horrible event, be unable to perform his duties as president?

I am not trying to pump up or deflate any potential candidates. I just wonder what is a more important quality.

[AnnitaR]

1. In today's world...

it has to be "a man (or woman) who would best be able to handle being the president if Kerry would, by some horrible event, be unable to perform his duties as president".

From hearing Kerry on Imus the other morning I think he feels this way too.

[neoteric lefty]

2. I agree but

one can make a pretty good argument that every electoral vote in the GE is so important in a 50-50 nation like in 2000. What would have happen if Gore had someone like Graham in 2000? Good chance that Bush would screwing up only Texas and not the whole country (and the whole world).

[Dookus]

3. well

obviously the candidate should have both. There's nothing mutually exclusive about the two criteria.

[neoteric lefty]

4. well

i never said they were exclusive and I hope the VP nominee has both but I think some of the potential candidates may be important to Kerry in one category and less important in the other. Like I said before, i do not want to disparage any of the candidates, whatsoever.

[necso]

5. In this election, electoral votes.

Beating * is the only consideration. This isn't just about Pres and VP, it's about a whole administration full of people bent on ruining this country, it's about empowering the absolute worst elements in the repug party. Regardless of who is at the top of the Democratic ticket, you can expect an administration that will get the country off of this extremist "Death Ride", if not take the country in whatever direction one may think it should go.

We must concentrate on averting those disasters yet to come with the bushco$$ people, like we should have done in 2000. Reaching for more, we may fall short, and this we simply cannot afford.

Kerry will pick someone who can bring in electoral votes. He knows the stakes.

[Leilani]

6. The main quality should be

able to become President in a heartbeat.

In addition to that, it would be nice to have someone able to bring in voters Kerry might not get on his own, or to add a state or two to the electoral count.

The best candidate would achieve both goals.

[patricia92243]

7. To win, of course. Can't back-up the prez unless you win.