Why didn't Al Gore pick John Kerry to be his running mate?

[Mister Mets]

Lieberman was also from New England, and the hope was that he could help in Florida (and he probably helped make the state as close as it was.) There isn't much indication that Kerry would have been more impressive to New Hampshire swing voters than Lieberman was.

Plus, Gore decided that Lieberman could help distance him from Clinton's personal shortcomings.

Edwards probably would have been better on November 2000, due to his charisma and Clinton's popularity. Although Edwards's later scandals prove he was a guy who should not have been one heartbeat away from the presidency.

In retrospect, Jeanne Shaheen would have been a perfect running mate for Gore, but she removed herself for contention. She would likely have sewn up New Hampshire, while helping Gore with the base and with female voters, without requiring any distancing from Bill Clinton.

[Mister Mets]

The election was so close that one state would have made the difference.

Any veep worth a hundredth of a percent more than Lieberman in Florida, or 1.28 points in New Hampshire would have changed the outcome.

Gephardt might have been worth 3.35% in Missouri, and would have been a solid governing choice.

Former Nevada Governor Bob Miller might have been worth four points in that state. He had been the longest serving Governor of the state, and Chairman of the National Governors Association so there wouldn't be much of an experience argument.