by Cheryl W.
Member since:
December 10, 2005

How Important is the Vice President?

October 01, 2008 08:00 PM EDT
views: 171 | comments: 19
With the upcoming Vice Presidential debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin, I have had to ask myself how important this debate will actually be in determining the outcome of the election.

Do voters pay that much attention to who is running for Vice President?  It seems like this year, more attention IS being paid.  Part of the reason goes to the fact that Sarah Palin is making history as the first Republican nominee for Vice President.  In the beginning she gave a huge boost to the McCain campaign.  Since then, some of her faltering interviews have given reason to doubt her readiness for the position...and McCain is falling behind in the polls.

How much weight do you give the position of Vice President?  After all, whoever is chosen will be only one heartbeat away from the Presidency.  Would an unsatisfactory Vice Presidential nominee keep you from voting for the candidate of your choice?  Or do you vote strictly on the basis of who is running for President?  Let's discuss.

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Comments: 19

Larry H. Oct 1, 2008, 8:10pm EDT
I think that the two that are running for president shouldn't chose a running mate. There should be a election where who ever loses the run for president then he should become the vice president.
David K. Oct 1, 2008, 8:11pm EDT
The choice of VP is the first important decision a wanna-be President makes. I think that speaks for itself.
Ray Lanfear Oct 1, 2008, 8:46pm EDT
This years election will hinge on the millions of female voters who have not made up their mind yet, based upon the debates tomorrow night.
Larry M. Oct 1, 2008, 8:57pm EDT
The vice President is very important since so may have become President. The choice of a vice Presidentail candidate is very revealing about the person doing the choosing.

Voters usually ignore the important things and pay attention to the unimportant things. That is why they usually ignore the VP. It's human nature.
Beth G. Oct 1, 2008, 9:00pm EDT
The vice president has only become more important with the last two presidencies. There usually is just a brief interest, and they are ignored unless the president resigns or dies while in office.
Brian T. Oct 1, 2008, 9:03pm EDT
I feel the VP slot is important because in case something happens to the president we need to have someone able to guide the country instead of letting it drift or crash on the rocks.
Wilma D. Oct 1, 2008, 9:06pm EDT
Some are more important than others. Cheney gave Bush's campaign gravitas, but usually they help to fill out a weakness in the presidential candidate or bring an important sate of voting bloc.
Cheryl W. Oct 1, 2008, 9:15pm EDT
Brian, I agree with you that the Vice President is very important. If something happens to the President, the Vice President has to be ready to take over. I don't believe Sarah Palin is anywhere near ready for that, and it scares me that more people don't seem to be taking that into consideration.
Jared P. Oct 1, 2008, 9:15pm EDT
Things have changed. The VP office has changed under Cheney. It will continue to become more important.

The Economy
Health Care
Energy
Social Security
Foreign Policy where there is relative peace
The two wars

Our president will have to hand the VP some of these issues. We can't afford a VP who is intellectually lazy to downright dumb.

When the candidate is a senior citizen, the VP choice is extremely important.
Jared P. Oct 1, 2008, 9:17pm EDT
Larry H, I like your proposal. Let people vote for the VP. Hillary would win that in a landslide.
Mary M. Oct 1, 2008, 11:06pm EDT
I think it matters this year more than ever, given Palin's being the first woman who might make VP.
libramoon C. Oct 1, 2008, 11:31pm EDT
As at any moment the potential President, it is very important that the VP have appropriate qualifications. I know there are times when the VP choice of the Presidential candidate has added to possible positives or negatives in my mind when analyzing where to place my vote. I didn't like Gore to begin with, but he was better than Bush. Lieberman clinched it for me. I voted for Nader.
Pamela O. Oct 2, 2008, 10:33am EDT
I believe the VP is very important. And the debate is very important to the american people. With McCain's health, he may very well not be able to serve all 4 years. With Obama... well with both of them really, I am afraid that attempts will be made on their life. People are getting more and more angry towards the government, and I think a crazy person or two may try to take things into their own hands, no matter who wins. So yeah, I think the VP is a very important role, and something to be taken very seriously.
Kathryn E. Oct 2, 2008, 10:40am EDT
Interesting in that the VP choices bolster or undermine the Presidential choices. In that regard, we will learn a lot tonight.
Priscilla P. Oct 2, 2008, 11:05pm EDT
The debate is over and Sarah P did pretty darn good, pal but I sure didn't change over to her philosophies
I do think it matters this year with the age of McCain and Obama's inexperience at running anything!
Thanks for stopping in and leaving coments at my posts, your efforts are much appreciated!!
Amy B. Oct 3, 2008, 12:59am EDT
I agree with Pamela that the choice of VP is very critical in this election. We have to acknowledge that McCain is older, and that attempts will likely be made on Obama's life. We may very well see Biden or Palin as a President before 2012.
Shelbia C. Oct 4, 2008, 12:08am EDT
I think it matters more this time because the choices are so different than what we are used to. And since McCain is older there is a higher probability that his VP could actually be president. It has been a possibility in every election, but it is more foreseeable in this scenario than usual.

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