How much does the VP choice affect your vote?

[SheilaT]

For me, not at all. The closest it ever came to was in 2000, when Gore picked Lieberman and I thought that was such a completely awful choice I almost didn't vote for Gore, although I still would not have voted for Bush.

This season, my governor, Susana Martinez, has occasionally been touted as a potential Republican VP all along. Given Trump's recent insulting of her while in this state last month, I doubt she's actually a contender, but even if Trump is dumped, and she's on the ticket, I won't be voting for the Republican slate of electors come November.

Maybe a far larger percentage of voters than I recognize are swayed by such things as the VP on the ticket. What do you guys think?

[John Poet]

1. The VP choice could make me feel better about doing

what I know I probably have to do, bite the Hillary bullet.....

if it's at least someone to the left of her on war and peace.

[djean111]

2. Not at all.

I consider the VP spot, for most candidates, as an accessory intended to pander for votes, and, in some cases, as a ploy to neuter a Senator. If the VP candidate's stand on the issues differs from the POTUS candidate's stances, I believe that the choice of VP candidate is just for the visual, and won't affect or influence anything at all, if elected.

[Proud Public Servant]

3. Not at all, but I'm a straight white guy

And therefore over-represented in every aspect of American existence. However, if I were a member of a disenfranchised group, I could imagine that seeing someone like me on the ticket might sway my vote. Seeing someone from my home state, though, would mean nothing, and seeing someone I identify with politically would mean little, given how powerless the veep is.

[corkhead]

4. it probably won't impact me personally,

but it may impact how much effort I put into persuading others to make the right choice. If she picks someone to her right I will be pissed off enough to possibly try to trade my vote with someone in a safe state.

[Autumn]

5. It doesn't.

[onyourleft]

6. Not at all. n/t

[Faux pas]

7. If you don't

like the presidential candidate, the vp choice doesn't mean anything.

[geek tragedy]

8. I think they can affect turnout and solidify preferences instead

of actually swinging votes

[Ace Rothstein]

9. The VP choice doesn't really matter unless you pick a disaster like Palin.

[TwilightZone]

10. McCain was more than likely going to get thumped anyway.

Palin just made sure.

The looming loss was why she was picked in the first place - the campaign was desperate.

[SDJay]

13. True, but

I know a LOT of people who were on the fence about which way to vote in 2008. I wasn't, but coworkers, family members and even friends of mine were not committed until they got exposed to Churchy Spice. ALL of them ran to Obama as quickly as possible as soon as they got a taste of that walking dumpster fire.

It certainly can affect people, based on my experience.

[TwilightZone]

15. Yeah, it probably does.

I know a couple of people who are staunch Republicans who voted for Obama almost entirely because of Palin. I'm just not sure how many people it affects or if it matters to the average voter. Could certainly be more than I think.

[SDJay]

19. I Agree With the Post Above

I don't think it makes a big difference in a positive way, but I do think it can drive people away from a ticket if the VP choice is horrendous.

[eastwestdem]

11. Not much for most people who are really 'into' politics...but for those who just turn out to vote

every four years, it could make a difference. Although this year, with two diametrically opposed candidates, maybe not.

[LWolf]

12. Not at all.

She could pick a living Eugene Debs and it wouldn't make a difference.

[Lord Magus]

14. As long as the VP isn't evil incarnate like Cheney or comically incompetent like Palin, not at all.

Not that I would've ever considered voting for Bush or McCain anyway, but a Dem who made a VP choice that awful would give me real pause about their judgement.

[SheilaT]

16. Thanks for all the responses so far.

One serious problem about the echo chamber that is DU, is that most of us here are quite engaged with politics and pay attention much of the time.

As eastwestdem pointed out, the VP choice may matter a lot to those who only vote once every four years.

The Palin choice does stand out for any number of reasons, and her total incompetence is the least of it. If you haven't seen the movie "Game Change", you should. What stands out is to what extent those around McCain were convinced that by nominating a woman to the VP spot they'd get the vote of almost every woman in America, a true Game Change. The degree to which she wasn't vetted was astonishing and appalling. All they could see that they had the first woman VP candidate. Which demonstrates how thoroughly none of them knew even recent history.

[MineralMan]

17. Not at all. She can choose as she pleases.

She'll have my vote and support during the campaign, regardless of her choice.

[SheenaR]

18. Doesn't matter

But I do think there are good choices and not as good choices.

I do not think Julian Castro is ready to be President, for example. But it wouldn't keep me from voting.

[TheFarseer]

20. Right now, I see myself voting third party

She may be able to win me back with a VP pick.