An honest question regarding primary rules

[pinebox]

I tried looking this up but I can't find it anywhere, can anybody else help?
Is it a technicality or flat out wrong as far as rules go with candidates announcing a VP choice BEFORE the general? I ask this because I'm seeing a lot of rumors on twitter about Nina Turner being Bernie's running mate. Granted rumors are rumors but this got me thinking.

Thanks all.

[winter is coming]

1. It's just rumors. Any candidate who chooses to announce who they'd like

as their running mate is effectively writing a public letter to Santa. Since it's on the primary ballot, it's only effect is to attract/repel voters. I'm not sure it even rises to the level of a campaign promise.

People have been doing fantasy football-esque matchups since about five minutes after Obama's re-election. I'm not taking any of it seriously until we have a nominee.

[pinebox]

6. True

Although it would be nice to see

[Motown_Johnny]

2. It is a free country. They can say anything they want.

I do not believe there is any rule about it.


It just doesn't make any sense because you want everyone who wants the job out doing favors for you.

It also creates another point of attack for your opponent.

[pinebox]

5. That's what I thought

[Sheepshank]

3. Since Primaries were only "invented" in 1968....

....and I'll admit I haven't read any particular rules anywhere regarding this either....I assume is more of an accepted protocol rather than a rule.

Political campaigning is a game of strategy, and naming the VP has always been timed for maximum impact, and coupled with trying to outdo an opponent. Tipping ones' hand too early gives the opponent time to dig up dirt and pick their own candidate based on that strategy.

[pinebox]

4. figured as much

thanks

[John Poet]

8. There were some presidential primaries long before 1968...

just not that many.

For instance, that of New Hampshire began to be held in 1916, I have just learned myself...

From Wikipedia:

New Hampshire has held a presidential primary since 1916, but it did not begin to assume its current importance until 1952 after the state simplified its ballot access laws in 1949 seeking to boost voter turnout, when Dwight Eisenhower demonstrated his broad voter appeal by defeating Robert A. Taft, "Mr. Republican", who had been favored for the nomination, and Estes Kefauver defeated incumbent President Harry S. Truman, leading Truman to abandon his campaign for a second term of his own.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_primary

[mythology]

7. McCain was only the presumptive nominee

When he announced Palin, as did Romney select Ryan.

I think doing so before you are the presumptive nominee is probably considered too presumptive. It is likely to do more harm by making the candidate look arrogant.

[frazzled]

9. I believe you're wrong

"John McCain officially clinched the Republican presidential nomination on March 4, 2008, sweeping the primaries in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island, and Vermont." He announced Palin as his running mate on August 29. That was 2 days before the Republican convention, which began on Sept. 1.

As for Romney, he clinched the nomination at the very end of May 2012--"With a victory in Texas on Tuesday night, Mitt Romney secured the necessary delegates to clinch the Republican nomination that will be awarded in Tampa this summer. http://www.politico.com/story/2012/05/mitt-clinches-gop-presidential-nod-076845#ixzz3yOAOXlxK

The convention began August 27. He announced his choice of Ryan on August 11, 2 weeks before the convention.

I can't recall any candidate from a major party in my adult lifetime (which has been, alas, too long) announcing a running mate during the primaries, before clinching the nomination.