Throw the VP to the people...

[George W. Hobbes]

Just was reading the boards and I begin wondering:

Why should the Presidential nominees get to decide who is their running mate?  Why not allow the people themselves to decide who should take over if the POTUS resigns or dies?

I'm sure very few Republicans want to keep Cheney on the ticket, and practically every Democrat want Edwards...

How could such a system be set up?  A national primary in the weeks before the convention?

Discuss.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

The vice-presidential nominee is technically chosen by the convention delegates.  And in fact, in 1956, Adlai Stevenson let the delegates decide on their own who should be the VP nominee...Estes Kefauver or John Kennedy.

In practice, the delegates vote unanimously for the nominee's choice, but they don't HAVE to.


I agree most Democrats want Edwards, but polling has suggested that most Republicans want Bush to keep Cheney.   He is still popular with the GOP base.

[Trilobyte]

But you also want a running mate that can work well with your presidential nominee, and only the nominee himself knows who that is.

Also, the choice for VP is often part of the campaign strategy itself. For example, if you want to target the midwest you would want a running-mate from there... So the nominee (with his campaign strategists) might make a better choice to fit the campaign.

[© tweed]

No, no.  But here's an idea: people elect Supreme court Justices.

[Akno21]

No, no.  But here's an idea: people elect Supreme court Justices.

NO, NO, NO. It would make the justices rule in favor of what the people want, not what is legally right.

[© tweed]

No, no.  But here's an idea: people elect Supreme court Justices.

NO, NO, NO. It would make the justices rule in favor of what the people want, not what is legally right.

Just a thought

[PBrunsel]

The vice-presidential nominee is technically chosen by the convention delegates.  And in fact, in 1956, Adlai Stevenson let the delegates decide on their own who should be the VP nominee...Estes Kefauver or John Kennedy.

Also Hubert Humphrey