NPR News

Running Mate Scorecard: Ups And Downs Since 1964

Credit AP

GOP presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, his running mate, George Bush, and their wives, Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush, wave from the podium at the 1980 Republican National Convention in Detroit on July 17. In picking Bush, Reagan created a ticket that unified the party.

Credit AP

U.S. Sen. Thomas Eagleton, the vice presidential nominee, and Sen. George McGovern, the presidential candidate, stand before the delegates to the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach, Fla. Less than a month after he was picked, Eagleton would be off the ticket.

Credit Mario Tama / Getty Images

Republican presidential candidate John McCain stands with his running mate, Sarah Palin, on Aug. 29, 2008, in Dayton, Ohio. The excitement Palin generated at first didn't last long.

By Ken Rudin

Originally published on Sun August 12, 2012 12:32 pm

It will be a while before we know if presidential candidate Mitt Romney's pick of Rep. Paul Ryan to join the Republican ticket will be a plus or minus for his campaign.

In my view, not since Jack Kennedy picked Lyndon Johnson has the choice of a running mate truly affected the outcome in November. LBJ did, after all, help bring Texas to the Democratic fold in 1960. But the record for subsequent No. 2s is a bit mixed. Here's my scorecard:

1964

7:29 am

Sat August 11, 2012

5 Vice Presidential Picks Who Were Key To Victory

Next image Previous image

Credit Ken Rudin collection

By Ken Rudin

Originally published on Sat August 11, 2012 10:09 am

There have been a number of instances in recent history where the choice of a vice presidential running mate was an important stepping stone toward winning in the fall.

Of course, it's much too early to know how much of a difference GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's choice of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan will make. In the meantime, here is my subjective list of the top five instances in the past half-century or so where a selection of a running mate was crucial to victory:

1. 1960: John Kennedy-Lyndon Johnson (D)

7:10 am

Sat August 11, 2012

Ryan Brings Big Ideas, And Some Risk, To GOP Ticket

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan is popular with conservatives and brings enthusiasm to the ticket. He won his House seat at 28, which means that now, at 42, he's a seasoned legislator.

By Andrea Seabrook

Originally published on Sat August 11, 2012 8:43 am

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's newly announced running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, has youth and experience. A conservative from a swing state, he has big ideas and the policy chops to back them up.

He also brings a kind of enthusiasm Romney could use: He's a darling of the conservative base that Romney has had a harder time winning over.

6:28 am

Sat August 11, 2012

Romney Picks Wisconsin's Ryan To Be His Running Mate On GOP Ticket

Credit Win McNamee / Getty Images

The Republican ticket at this morning's announcement in Norfolk, Va.: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, left, and Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

By Mark Memmott

Originally published on Sat August 11, 2012 2:11 pm

Listen

Listen to NPR's Live Coverage

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan is Mitt Romney's choice for running mate on the 2012 Republican presidential ticket.

The official word, which began leaking overnight, came early this morning from the Romney campaign via a smartphone app and a news release.

5:25 am

Sat August 11, 2012

Three NATO Soldiers Killed By Afghans

By editor

An Afghan working on an installation shared by Afghan and foreign forces shot and killed three NATO soldiers on Friday — raising to six the number of international troops killed by their Afghan partners in 24 hours, officials said.

All Content	closeNews podcasts Use iTunes Use a different player	RSS
View all podcasts & RSS feeds

Now Playing

Podcasts & RSS Feeds

NPR News

Pages

Election 2012

7:37 am

Sat August 11, 2012