# So uh, Mr. Kerry... you gonna pick a running mate or what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 14, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934 "2004-04-14T06:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/1 "2004-04-14T06:51:16Z")
I know you’ve been real busy and everything what with the campaigning and all, but in visiting all the towns, meeting the people, did it seem like there was something missing? Running mate! The viable veep to your potential potus! I know, I know… what are they good for? True. Granted, the current President’s running mate has been missing for quite some time now, it’s easy to forget about him. But I’m pretty sure they don’t let you be president if you don’t find one by November or so. You might want to add that to your “to do” list in the next few months. Try looking around North Carolina. I’m just sayin’ Postscript: Beware screamers. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/2 "2004-04-14T07:29:10Z")
Everyone loves Edwards, but I will be surprised if Kerry picks him. Kerry seems to have quite an ego and wouldn’t want to risk being overshadowed by Edwards’ good looks and charm. I think Gephardt is a more likely choice, personally. ---
**Author:** ![Nanny\_Ogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a87d85/32.png) [@Nanny\_Ogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanny_Ogg)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/3 "2004-04-14T12:35:57Z")
I think a trained monkey ought to do nicely. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/4 "2004-04-14T13:10:20Z")
> [@Nanny Ogg](#): > > I think a trained monkey ought to do nicely. 🙂 There’s already one at the head of the Democratic ticket, though. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/5 "2004-04-14T13:15:15Z")
He is allowed to wait until the convention, you know. It’s sort of traditional. ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/6 "2004-04-14T13:29:16Z")
I wonder if he’s waiting to see if Bush takes Cheney again. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/7 "2004-04-14T13:52:38Z")
Bush is taking Cheney again. All the ads for Bush say “Bush-Cheney '04.” ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/8 "2004-04-14T14:08:22Z")
Frankly, I think Cheney could use a new running mate in '04. ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/9 "2004-04-14T14:15:02Z")
Cheney could develop further Halli^H^H^H^H^H^H Heart troubles. ---
**Author:** ![GKW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@GKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GKW)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/10 "2004-04-14T14:51:28Z")
I’ve seen several articles advocating a Kerry-McCain ticket. On the surface, this seems appealing but I haven’t spent enough time researching their differing stances on issues. I do like the idea of a partnership between the two parties as I am so sick of the polarization in the country. Probably just a pipe dream. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/11 "2004-04-14T14:59:37Z")
> [@GKW](#): > > I’ve seen several articles advocating a Kerry-McCain ticket. On the surface, this seems appealing but I haven’t spent enough time researching their differing stances on issues. I do like the idea of a partnership between the two parties as I am so sick of the polarization in the country. Probably just a pipe dream. [McCain on talk of run with Kerry: ‘No, no and no’ Arizona senator says Bush deserves re-election]([http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/11/mccain.veep/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/11/mccain.veep/index.html))I was hoping for it too. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/12 "2004-04-14T15:24:35Z")
Senators, especially in the old days, were a friendly, clubable bunch. There are lots of stories of cross party friendships. One famous one, interestingly enough, is Orrin Hatch and Teddy Kennedy. Another is both Kennedys, John and Ted, and Barry Goldwater. McCain and Kerry are an example of this. To this tradition can be added the sharing of “old sea stories.” Both men are Navy veterans, and decorated Vietnam veterans at that. I’m certain that’s as far as it goes. They don’t agree much on policy. That doesn’t prevent them from being friends, but it would doom a political partnership. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/13 "2004-04-14T15:34:35Z")
Hmmm. He needs someone bulletproof. Someone who can withstand criticism and vigorously defend his stance on the issues. Someone who can tell the bald truth without fear of the consequences. Someone with a good deal of experience. Someone who can assure us that the next administration will get the correct information when making their policy decisions! And who could that be?.. … … … **I hereby nominate Cecil!** Is he a democrat??? And does it matter? P.S. What about Clark? Is he still around? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/14 "2004-04-14T16:14:12Z")
As a Republican, I wouldn’t presume to tell Kerry who to name as a running mate. But Clark has a reputation that would produce problems for him. He did some things during the race that made him look like something of a loon. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/15 "2004-04-14T16:21:21Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > There’s already one at the head of the Democratic ticket, though. A trained one is better than the untrained one in the office now. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/16 "2004-04-14T16:26:36Z")
And is the one currently in office housebroken? I swear there were times last night when it looked like he was going to wet himself. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-uh-mr-kerry-you-gonna-pick-a-running-mate-or-what/239934/17 "2004-04-14T17:02:05Z")
It is quite traditional to announce the Veep selection during the convention. Somehow in recent years, this got moved up to the week before, then then the month before, etc. It does no good whatsoever to announce ahead of time. The aura of mystery and speculation is free publicity. Watching the people on the list schlep around to talk shows and see how well they fawn over you is also helpful. Gore announcing Lieberman early in 2000 was Yet Another Bad Move That Cost the Election (but not nearly as bad as actually picking Lieberman). So, the longer Kerry waits implies the more savy he is.