When will the candidates start vetting potential running mates?

[PeteB]

Interesting question, especially because this election cycle has been so different.

On the Democratic side, I imagine that Clinton already has a vetting process going on quietly (and unless she is facing Kasich, my bet is her choice is someone like Sen. Kaine). I am guessing that Sanders has not even gotten to thinking about it. If he does get the opportunity, he may have to agree to a "brokered" establishment VP candidate.

On the GOP side, with the contested convention, all bets are off. The VP candidate may well be forced onto the ticket, or a convention deal between a couple of candidates may determine the VP slot.

If the GOP candidates have a choice,Trump will definitely want someone politically experienced - as Silly American said, the ideal "fantasy candidate" would be a woman Governor (as long as it is not Palin ). Similarly Cruz would need an experienced person who would alleviate mainstream concerns (someone like Scott Walker, but with some charisma). If he has the choice, Kasich has the "luxury" to get someone young and telegenic (Gov. Martinez, Gov. Haley or even Sen. Rubio come to mind).

But other than Clinton, I doubt any of the others have started serious vetting.

[PeteB]

Interesting question, especially because this election cycle has been so different.

On the Democratic side, I imagine that Clinton already has a vetting process going on quietly (and unless she is facing Kasich, my bet is her choice is someone like Sen. Kaine).

If Hillary is to have any hope of reuniting the Democratic Party and reconciling Sanders' supporters to her nomination, she will more likely pick a progressive (not a moderate) as her running-mate.  

By this point, that should be a given.  

That really depends on circumstances. Note that I said "unless she is facing Kasich (i.e. a more moderate opponent)". If she is running against Trump or Cruz, she will NOT need a "progressive" VP pick to energize the base. Could you really see any Bernie supporters vote GOP or even abstain in a Clinton-Cruz or Clinton-Trump matchup for example? And with someone moderate as VP, she could just scoop up the votes in the middle as well.

[PeteB]

Interesting question, especially because this election cycle has been so different.

On the Democratic side, I imagine that Clinton already has a vetting process going on quietly (and unless she is facing Kasich, my bet is her choice is someone like Sen. Kaine).

If Hillary is to have any hope of reuniting the Democratic Party and reconciling Sanders' supporters to her nomination, she will more likely pick a progressive (not a moderate) as her running-mate.  

By this point, that should be a given.  

That really depends on circumstances. Note that I said "unless she is facing Kasich (i.e. a more moderate opponent)". If she is running against Trump or Cruz, she will NOT need a "progressive" VP pick to energize the base. Could you really see any Bernie supporters vote GOP or even abstain in a Clinton-Cruz or Clinton-Trump matchup for example?

There is no better way to lose an election than to give your supporters (especially those who supported someone else in the primaries) the impression that you are taking them for granted.  I can easily see some of Sanders' supporters abstaining or voting third party.  Why not minimize the possible defections by picking a running-mate whom they regard as being one of them? 

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Hillary already represents the moderate and conservative (i.e. older) elements of the Democratic Party.  She needs a running-mate who represents those she hasn't been able to win over during the primaries. 

Because if you are running against extreme right wing candidates, you do not want any left wing presence on your ticket, to dilute your appeal to the center (and vice versa). And no, I do not think Sanders supporters in that scenario would abstain or vote third party, if they understand that the end result could be President Cruz!

[PeteB]

Dallas Morning News claims that Cruz has already set up a VP vetting committee quietly:

http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2016/04/cruz-quietly-opens-vp-search-but-convention-fight-with-trump-complicates-task.html/