John McCain and Barack Obama not likely to get much of a veep bounce

Our cousins over at the Swamp ferreted out this nice detail from Gallup: Political writers apparently care an awful lot more about who John McCain and Barack Obama will pick as their running mates than you do.

It's fairly new polling involved, since, as Gallup points out, the vice presidential running mate used to be picked at the convention. And no, they didn't just pick the guy in the bathroom at the time of the vote, so he couldn't say no. The choice usually was predicated upon regional concerns -- balancing a ticket geographically -- or making sure the party was solidified for the general election. That usually meant picking a running mate who would appease whatever internal faction felt aggrieved.

But in modern campaigns the presidential candidates have been selecting their running mates before the convention. So beginning in 1996, Gallup began polling voters after running mates were selected, and since then found that candidates received about a five-point bounce in polls after naming their running mates. Of course in a bounce, what goes up comes down. Head over to the Swamp for the details.

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Paul]

Its rare, but I have to disagree with the author. Aldepending on who the veeps are, If McCain goes with Huckabee or Obama Clinton, I think you will see a 5 percent bounce. Some people would be willing to over look McCain flipping the bird. video at http://wwwMccanes.com or Obama horrible dancing and rapping at http://www.hotpres.com I know clinton and huckabee where my first choices. I am not alone either.

[SWMIssouri]

Picking the guy in the Bathroom? Is Larry Craig on McSame's short list?

[Mitchell in NY]

Ah, but consider if Obama picks Al Gore....Crazy idea...I understand that he's not scheduled to speak at the convention at this time. And just who has enough gravitas to follow Bill Clinton, which the VP candidate will do?

In terms of McCain, not enough has been done to reveal his true colors by comparing him to well-known figures, some of whom might be his VP choice.

"Who Does McCain Remind you of? A New Game for Hard Times"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[dave]

in this set-up against the people's interests, by those who represent the system presently in power, to maneuver into office either of two puppets in a putsch-like operation only thinly veiled as 'democratic', the true alternatives have been systematically eliminated by massive media censorship, propaganda and manipulation. all legitimate and qualified candidates of integrity, not corrupt and bought by corporate and banking interests; all who care about the country and the people, and offer real solutions to the problems, have been suppressed and silenced from the start (despite all that, RON PAUL the legitimate presidential candidate for the republican party advocating constitutional values, having been excluded from the neocon convention, has managed to organize the REAL republican convention in minneapolis, right next door to the neocons' show in st. paul). when the people will no longer tolerate illegitimate presidents and governments foisted on them in mock 'democratic' elections, they will vote to see their rights protected, and their own interests represented, in a government accountable to them. but it is futile to discuss the appointment of a running mate for vice president, by any illegitimate candidate for president.