Who did you support in previous veepstakes?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

In 2004 I wanted Kerry to pick Bob Graham for obvious (muh Florida) reasons, despite having a low opinion of Graham himself.

In 2008, when it was down to Bayh, Biden and Kaine, I preferred Kaine, seeing Biden as just too old (though he proved much more energetic than many younger politicians) and DLC-ish, while Bayh is a useless moderate hero.


I don't recall having a preference for Republican side, other than if I were Romney I'd have picked Rubio (yeah, it was before he became a total dud) instead of Ryan, against because of muh Florida.

[DINGO Joe]

I've never gotten worked up about VP picks.  Obviously a bad choice can be a big negative, but the election really is all about who's going to be President.

[IceSpear]

I wanted Obama to pick Hillary for VP in 08. This time my first choice would be Merkley, but of those actually in contention, I reluctantly endorse Kaine since the others are no better, too risky,  lose a Senate seat, or something else.

[LLR]

I wanted Obama to pick Hillary for VP in 08. This time my first choice would be Merkley, but of those actually in contention, I reluctantly endorse Kaine since the others are no better, too risky,  lose a Senate seat, or something else.

Becerra? Perez?

[Dave1]

Going back a ways I wanted Ronald Reagan to pick Gerald Ford as his VP in 1980. Gerald Ford would have been a better Vice President than George Bush.

[Mr. Smith]

Dems

2008: Hillary

GOP

2008: Romney
2012: Rubio

As you can guess, I followed the logic that the second placer should always be the pick when I first got into things.

As for 2012, Rubio being taken down by Biden would've been far more entertaining, also kinda fell into the "muh diversity" trap.

[Pessimistic Antineutrino]

I wanted Romney to pick Rubio or Christie in 2012, because muh diversity and Christie was still decently popular. Even after the Obama bromance I still would have liked him to be VP, get NJ on the ticket for once.

[Senator-elect Spark]

2008:

Democratic: Joe Biden

Republican: Rudy Giuliani

2012:

Democratic: Joe Biden

Republican: Marco Rubio

[mencken]

2008: Webb and Palin (Obviously terrible with hindsight)
2012: Paul, although Portman seemed the best strategically

[Californiadreaming]

despite having a low opinion of Graham himself.

Why exactly did you have a low opinion of Graham himself, though?

Also, as for me:

2008: Romney (R) and either Biden or Kaine (D), I guess. However, I would have certainly been both happy and relieved at almost anyone other than Hillary Clinton for the Democratic VP spot in 2008.
2012: Biden (D)--obviously--and I guess Ryan (R).
2016: Pence (R) and I guess Kaine (D).

[kyc0705]

This year on the Democratic side, my ideal hope was Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, or Sherrod Brown. None of those three seemed very likely, so I mainly held out for Xavier Becerra. I'm slowly warming to Kaine, however.