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Running mate more than a ticket-balancer
by Dave McNeely
Midland Reporter-Telegram
The speculation continues about potential running mates for Democrat Barack Obama, 47, and Republican John McCain, who will turn 72 on Aug. 29.
But we should remember that it really does matter who is sitting second chair. While it's certainly understandable that winning the election is important, that vice-presidential nominee should be more than a geographical, ideological or experiential ticket-balancer. They should be capable to take over the job as seamlessly as possible.
In the meantime, not only can an appropriately wise vice president provide good counsel and help to the president, he or she will have a pretty good shot at becoming president themselves. More about that later.
Of course, for a presidential candidate to become president, he or she first must win the election. And there certainly has been more than passing attention paid to that by presidential hopefuls.
The prospect of winning states not usually carried by Democratic presidential candidates certainly adds to the allure to Obama of Indiana's Evan Bayh, 52, a senator and former governor; Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, 64; and Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, 50.
For McCain, he's OK on defense and foreign policy, and Washington experience. He may need more appeal to his party's conservative wing, perhaps some regional balance, and someone like a governor who's actually run something. And maybe someone quite a bit younger.
Among the names being noised around are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 61, considered a business whiz; Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, 52, a younger man from a swing state; and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 52, who as a Baptist preacher has better credentials with the religious right than McCain.
The vice presidency is one of the best vantage points to run for president. It carries a 50-state identification, a national political organizational base, and a reputation as someone sitting close to the captain's seat.
Of the 18 presidents of the 20th Century, seven served as vice presidents first, five of them when the president died or resigned.
Of the 10 running mates from 1940 through 2000 who served as vice president, four became president, and three others were their party's nominee for president but lost.
The four running mates who later became president were Democrats Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson, and Republicans Richard Nixon and George Bush. (Gerald Ford became president when Richard Nixon resigned, but hadn't been Nixon's election running mate; he was appointed vice president to replace Spiro Agnew, who resigned.)
The three vice presidents who later became presidential nominees but then lost the election were Democrats Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Al Gore.
What considerations do presidential nominees go through in making this first most important decision?
In 1980, Ronald Reagan picked primary election rival George Bush, even though Bush had derided Reagan's budget proposals as "Voodoo Economics." To Reagan, Bush provided the former California governor a real war record, Washington balance and experience, strength in the Northeast, and some moderation (even though Bush had an election-year conversion to opposing a woman's right to choose whether to have an abortion, and downplayed the Voodoo to get on the ticket).
In 1992, Democratic Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton forgot regional balance and picked then-U.S. Sen. Gore of adjoining Tennessee because of his good environmental record, Washington Senate and House experience, Vietnam war service, family values, and an organization and a past thoroughly vetted by the press from his own presidential run four years earlier.
In 1984, Democrat Walter Mondale hoped his selection of U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York, the first woman vice-presidential nominee, would provide some pizzazz to capitalize on the women's vote. That didn't happen.
In 1988, George Bush picked unknown U.S. Sen. Dan Quayle of Indiana to cater to the Republican right, and who wouldn't outshine him. Quayle proved an embarrassment, but Bush won anyway.
In a few weeks, Obama and McCain will announce their running mates -- who might be president themselves someday.
But we should remember that it really does matter who is sitting second chair. While it's certainly understandable that winning the election is important, that vice-presidential nominee should be more than a geographical, ideological or experiential ticket-balancer. They should be capable to take over the job as seamlessly as possible.
In the meantime, not only can an appropriately wise vice president provide good counsel and help to the president, he or she will have a pretty good shot at becoming president themselves. More about that later.
Of course, for a presidential candidate to become president, he or she first must win the election. And there certainly has been more than passing attention paid to that by presidential hopefuls.
The prospect of winning states not usually carried by Democratic presidential candidates certainly adds to the allure to Obama of Indiana's Evan Bayh, 52, a senator and former governor; Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, 64; and Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia, 50.
For McCain, he's OK on defense and foreign policy, and Washington experience. He may need more appeal to his party's conservative wing, perhaps some regional balance, and someone like a governor who's actually run something. And maybe someone quite a bit younger.
Among the names being noised around are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 61, considered a business whiz; Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, 52, a younger man from a swing state; and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 52, who as a Baptist preacher has better credentials with the religious right than McCain.
The vice presidency is one of the best vantage points to run for president. It carries a 50-state identification, a national political organizational base, and a reputation as someone sitting close to the captain's seat.
Of the 18 presidents of the 20th Century, seven served as vice presidents first, five of them when the president died or resigned.
Of the 10 running mates from 1940 through 2000 who served as vice president, four became president, and three others were their party's nominee for president but lost.
The four running mates who later became president were Democrats Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson, and Republicans Richard Nixon and George Bush. (Gerald Ford became president when Richard Nixon resigned, but hadn't been Nixon's election running mate; he was appointed vice president to replace Spiro Agnew, who resigned.)
The three vice presidents who later became presidential nominees but then lost the election were Democrats Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale and Al Gore.
What considerations do presidential nominees go through in making this first most important decision?
In 1980, Ronald Reagan picked primary election rival George Bush, even though Bush had derided Reagan's budget proposals as "Voodoo Economics." To Reagan, Bush provided the former California governor a real war record, Washington balance and experience, strength in the Northeast, and some moderation (even though Bush had an election-year conversion to opposing a woman's right to choose whether to have an abortion, and downplayed the Voodoo to get on the ticket).
In 1992, Democratic Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton forgot regional balance and picked then-U.S. Sen. Gore of adjoining Tennessee because of his good environmental record, Washington Senate and House experience, Vietnam war service, family values, and an organization and a past thoroughly vetted by the press from his own presidential run four years earlier.
In 1984, Democrat Walter Mondale hoped his selection of U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro of New York, the first woman vice-presidential nominee, would provide some pizzazz to capitalize on the women's vote. That didn't happen.
In 1988, George Bush picked unknown U.S. Sen. Dan Quayle of Indiana to cater to the Republican right, and who wouldn't outshine him. Quayle proved an embarrassment, but Bush won anyway.
In a few weeks, Obama and McCain will announce their running mates -- who might be president themselves someday.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of mywesttexas.com.
txradioguy wrote on Aug 22, 2008 9:27 AM:
" If by "Charasmatic you mean "phoney" "shallow" and "fraud" then you are on to something.
But then it's nothing the Dems haven't been trying to put forward as their ideal candidate for the last 30 years. "
But then it's nothing the Dems haven't been trying to put forward as their ideal candidate for the last 30 years. "
al wrote on Oct 19, 2008 10:00 AM:
" Elections-------re. your article
The higher the voter turnout, the better it is for Democrats. The Polling formula does not recognize previously incactive voters in their calcs.
This particlulary applies to a state that is 50% Latino and African American. "
The higher the voter turnout, the better it is for Democrats. The Polling formula does not recognize previously incactive voters in their calcs.
This particlulary applies to a state that is 50% Latino and African American. "
Daniel Seigler wrote on Mar 20, 2009 1:01 PM:
" The Senate, in the ORIGINAL Constitution of the United States, was made to represent the STATE in the federal governing body. By adding the 17th Amendment, the State was effectively removed from naming it representatives to the governing body. If this topical legislation comes to fruition, then the State is effectively TOTALLY removed from representation in the national governing body.
Now, i want less governing bodies telling me how to live my life, but i do believe that the State should have equal representation. "
Now, i want less governing bodies telling me how to live my life, but i do believe that the State should have equal representation. "
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Jack wrote on Jul 28, 2008 6:36 AM: