McCain about to announce running mate?

[Drogpolitician]

The Kennedy - Johnson story is interesting. Kennedy beat the more experienced Johnson in the primaries in a similar race to the Obama vs Clinton race. Kennedy then offered the VP to Johnson as a mark of respect, assuming Johnson would turn it down. Johnson surprised everyone, presumably wanting to be just a gunshot from the presidency.

JFK offered Johnston the VP slot. When he accepted Bobby - who hadn't been consulted - threw his toy's out of the pram and went to LBJ to get him to withdraw. The father Ambassador Joe told Bobby to cool down and told Jack that in week it would be seen as the best darm move he ever made.

Apart from the unpledged delegates that went to Harry F Byrd Kennedy/Johnston carried the south. Something JFK wouldn't have managed with a different running mate.

[seabhcan]

Apart from the unpledged delegates that went to Harry F Byrd Kennedy/Johnston carried the south. Something JFK wouldn't have managed with a different running mate.

Probably true, although the mob helped a bit in Chicago.

[Drogpolitician]

Apart from the unpledged delegates that went to Harry F Byrd Kennedy/Johnston carried the south. Something JFK wouldn't have managed with a different running mate.

Probably true, although the mob helped a bit in Chicago.

The alleged mob assistance wasn't as decisive as people make out. If Nixon had won the state Kennedy would still have won 276 electoral votes to Nixon's 246 (with 269 needed to win).

[killianfeehan]

I agree that the two veeps will be governors, and based on that, I think it will be Romney for McCain and Richardson for Obama. Romney would really bring home the very conservative, economy voters for McCain and Richardson would bring home the hispanics for Obama. However, as Romney is a generic Republican, and McCain might pop his clogs in the next 4/8 years, Romney might alienate more voters than he would really bring with him.

[Universal_001]

[quote=Squire Allworthy]

As a matter of interest what would happen if McCain, or Obama for that matter, were to die between now and the convention? I assume all delegates would then be free to vote as they please. If we take this one step further post convention if the same were to happen would the hopeful be the VP choice or the next best contender at the convention?

Yes to the first question. To the second, I don't know.

I know there is a deadline (so to speak) close to the election, after which the candidates stay on the ballot even if dead. John Ashcroft lost the Governership of Missouri to Mel Carnahan, even though Carnahan was dead.

Between the convention and the deadline, I imagine the party can just call a new convention and pick a new candidate.

Thanks The post convention scenario has always puzzled me.[/quote:2wabreiv]

If the presidential and vp candidate were elected dead then the Speaker would have to be sworn in.
Congress could always change the presidential succession act to make that temporary while they hold a special presidential election to fill the post, that used to be the way it was.
They would not be elected dead tho, the electoral college can vote for whoever they want to be president, the party in question could just put up two more candidates and have them voted in.

[Binx]

I agree that the two veeps will be governors, and based on that, I think it will be Romney for McCain and Richardson for Obama. Romney would really bring home the very conservative, economy voters for McCain and Richardson would bring home the hispanics for Obama. However, as Romney is a generic Republican, and McCain might pop his clogs in the next 4/8 years, Romney might alienate more voters than he would really bring with him.

Which one of those clowns that were running for the republican nomination wouldn't alienate SOME demographic? Giuliani? Huckabee? They were a joke. Any republican worth his salt is sitting in the long grass till 2012/2016. And you heard it hear first: If McCain pops his clogs before the convention (God forbid) I reckon Newt Gingrich would take his place.