Does a presidential candidate's choice of running mate affect how you vote?

Question

Do Americans vote for the party or the candidate? I'm curious to know if the choice of VP running mate affects how you will vote. Have you ever changed your mind because you totally disagreed with who the presidential candidate chose as a running mate?

Does the fact that a VP can become acting president or even president in the event of resignation,failing health or, heaven forbid, assassination influence your decision?

Answer 1

Absolutely.  I ignore the presidential candidate since his choice of running mate is the best indicator of his ability to select the people who will aid him in accomplishing his mission.  A good VP = Mission Accomplished.

Answer 2

The candidates' choices have both encouraged and depressed me.  

Obama chose an individual who could step in in a time of great vulnerability for our country--even though that individual did not reinforce the message Obama wanted to support politically.

McCain chose an individual based entirely on politics. He did NOT "put the country first." And the fact that he felt "safe" to do so illustrates just what his campaign handlers think of the American people: NOTHING. They think only of themselves and their self-centered ambitions.

To have a candidate illustrate such a willingness to use the very worst of what makes politics so awful, to have a candidate get so far on the basis of those tactics...well, I will truly be depressed if the polls don't show that people can see past this stuff...soon.

Answer 3

Honestly no.

I was voting McCain even before he made the choice of Palin. Though his choice only reinforced to me that I was making the correct decision. It's very reassuring to finally have a Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidate that are both well experienced and eloquent.

Even though I live in a primarily Democrat state and community. I proudly support the Republicans.

Answer 4

NO.  I do not believe that John MCCain is going to die in office like all the other democrats seem to think.  I was a Hillary supporter who switched to McCain back in the beginning of June.  Joe Biden had no effect on my vote.  And neither does Sarah Palin.  I vote for the top of the ticket.  

Answer 5

Until this election, I thought that vp candidates were a bunch of hoohah.  But thanks to John McCain's choice, I've realized just how important a vp really is and it's not a given.  The choice could very well crash McCain's aspirations.

First, looking at the obvious credentials, you would expect someone who's familiar with the federal government and more or less ready and able to step in, god forbid.  Biden has considerable experience in Washington and whether you like the man, or not, he would be able to do the job.  Palin's experience is weak and thin.  It's not like she is the governor of California or New York, she has a state with a population less than any major city in the US and the funding is virtually guaranteed.  Most ceo's have better experience going for them than she does.  There are probably millions with more experience than her experience in Wasilla, Alaska.  Then factor in the time she's been at it, less than 2 years.

But forget about all of that, because experience isn't all that it's cracked up to be.  Consider the actual situation we've been asked to buy off on.  John McCain is not a young man.  In fact, by the end of his first term he will have reached the average life expectancy of an American male.  Add to that the fact that he was in a POW camp in N. Vietnam for a considerable amount of time - beaten, abused, starved, degraded.  Now, how long do you think McCain has compared to his peers?

Next consider the person he has chosen for the unfortunate situation where the President is no longer able to fulfill his duties.  She is a family person with 5 kids and a husband.  You can probably ignore a husband to a certain extent, but kids are a far different situation.  Exacerbate that situation with the fact that the most recent addition has Down's Syndrome.  Almost assuredly, that child is going to place a very heavy burden on the parents.  There will likely be numerous surgeries to correct body functions including possibly open heart surgery.  Do we want to make a mother decide on whether they have to hop on AF1 at a moment's notice when she feels the need to be with a child in a critical condition?

McCain has made it painfully obvious to me that the running mate is an important part of the ticket and one that I never gave any serious thought to before this election.

Answer 6

No.  I will not vote for another 4 years of the republicans, no matter who the running mate is.  Obama 2008!

Answer 7

McCain is sickly,she can't be allowed to become the president

Answer 8

No.

I vote for the party.

No.

No.