U.S. presidential election (25): if it’s really going to be Clinton against Trump, who are going to be their running mates?

Of course, it’s not certain, but it looks increasingly likely that Hillary Clinton will win the nomination to be the Democratic candidate for the Presidency and that her opponent will probably be Donald Trump in the Republican camp. So thoughts are already turning to who might be their running mates for Vice-President on the general election ticket.

Traditionally Presidential candidates have chosen a running mate ‘to balance the ticket’, especially geographically or demographically. But a lot of American politics is about turnout and it is often seen as important ‘to energise the base’ – that is, enthuse those who would naturally support you to actually turn out and vote (think John McCain’s surprise selection of Sarah Palin).

Hillary Clinton is seen as an immensely experienced candidate, but a divisive one who attracts bile from many Republican voters and who generates lukewarm enthusiasm from a lot of Democratic supporters (hence the astonishing performance of Bernie Sanders).

In this article, it is speculated that maybe she could choose Senator Elizabeth Warren as her running mate even though Warren has not yet endorsed Clinton.  Warren would support many of the themes of the Sanders’ campaign and excite Democrats to vote.

Of course, she’s a woman – is that problem? We’ve never had a female President or Vice-President. Why not smash two glass ceilings at once?

Turning to the Republican side, as this article explains, Trump is now furiously trying to moderate his image so that he can pick up extra delegates at the party’s Convention and limp over the winning number. If he wins the nomination, then who will he choose as his running mate?

Trump has infuriated the Republican establishment who never expected him to be a serious candidate. Trump has absolutely no experience of elective office – at city, state or federal level.  So, if he wants to win over the Republican establishment, maybe he’ll chose a a senior figure in the party.  And, if he wants to get things done, he’ll need to work with Congress. So maybe he’ll select as his Vice-Presidential partner Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

A contest between Clinton & Warren and Trump & Ryan – now that would be a choice.


3 Comments

  • Claudia Blair

    For the record, just to show how wrong I can be: I do not think Trump will get the nomination, but if he does the party will need Ryan in the house more than ever.

    Clinton will choose somebody from her inner circle, someone who has no hope of a political career on their own and will do what ever she tells them to do or say.

    Both of them will have a difficult time filling the cabinet posts with good people. Clinton has a lot of cronies in the military, who are more hawkish than she is. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if she appointed somebody from the big banks to serve as secretary of treasury.

    But the way things have been this cycle it won’t be long before we know how wrong I have been.

  • Roger Darlington

    Thanks for these observations, Claudia.

    Just to clarify: I’m not forecasting that Warren and Ryan will be chosen but thinking aloud about the possibilities and considerations.

  • Claudia Blair

    Roger, this is a great topic for thinking aloud and wondering.

 




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