Part 1: The Conventions and the VP's
The Selection process for the Republican Nominee, Donald Trump's Vice Presidential Selection was borderline garbage, from their horrible vetting that hadn't been seen since McGovern's '72 run by picking initially, Thomas Eagleston, who had electroshock therapy because he had depression, and he had to be replaced with Sargent Shiver. The Trump team picked Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, General Michael Flynn, and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, as the top three. The shortlist alienated moderate Republicans, and many Moderate Republicans considered supporting Secretary of State Clinton or Governor Gary Johnson. With the Republican National Convention looming, Donald Trump announced General Michael Flynn to be the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, calling Flynn, "A True American Patriot that supports the MAGA Agenda and opposes the Corrupt Clintons!" However, the day before the RNC, the picture of him with Vladimir Putin in the RT Gala surfaced, and he was paid 45k to speak at the gala and violated Defense and State Department rules, which hurt Trump's arguement against Clinton. During the RNC, Flynn only got the majority by 1 vote in the second ballot, as Trump refused to remove Flynn from the ticket.
The Clinton campaign used the opportunity to scout for moderate Republicans and Democrats and they had a moderate Billionaire in mind, Michael Bloomberg. The primary reason why Clinton picked Bloomberg was because he could fund downballot Democrats, and so that the Clinton Administration could get bills passed. The pick pissed many Bernie supporters, and after Jill Stein's fall from the Green Party, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, endorsed by the Green and Socialist Parties, with Gloria La Riva as her running mate, had over 5% on the polls, and it briefly had around 15% on one poll but with Senator Sanders's endorsement of Clinton, it fell to a solid base of 5%. During the Democratic National Convention, a rising star named Jason Kander was the keynote speaker, with the Bushes announcing their support of Clinton, and with McCain supporting Clinton, after being primaried by Kelli Ward, most people thought that Clinton would easily win, with possibilities that was deemed unthinkable by many people, including Arkansas flipping Blue, a House Majority by the Democrats and other things.
Polls after the Conventions
Hillary R. Clinton 45%Donald J. Trump 28%Gary E. Johnson 9%Tulsi Gabbard 4%
