JohnnyQueue / August 25, 2008 10:08 AM

I don't care who the Toddler chooses as Cook County VP, I'm not voting for him!

Protest vote: go Green Party.

Pedro / August 25, 2008 11:05 AM

In other elections, not a whole lot.

In this one, each candidate has reasonable risks that make the VP much more relevant. Obama seems lost and needs guidance and McCain is old and his VP needs to be qualified.

Carrie / August 25, 2008 11:25 AM

Well, in all honesty I'm not on the fence about who I'm voting for. I would've been concerned had Obama chosen a complete tool, but Biden seems ok enough. I do have some concerns/reservations about him, but not enough to vote McCain... I have way more concerns about him and I'm sure I'll have just as many with his VP choice.

Zach / August 25, 2008 5:26 PM

It's an important consideration to me, especially when considering our president of the past two terms, the Veep has just as much a say in policy as the Prez himself, if not more. All those editorial cartoonists who depicted Bush as a marionette controlled by Cheney weren't just imagining things.

Think of McCain's possible choice of Lieberman – if McCain chooses him, he has a much better chance of pulling in centrist voters who may dislike McCain's stance on certain social issues, but prefer Lieberman's slightly more liberal takes.

The same goes for Obama/Biden, or any other possible candidates. Their policies combined are what we ultimately vote for, but how they're combined and how the ingredients manifest themselves are at least what leads me to my own particular vote.

So yeah, short answer: the vice prez matters, a lot.

Ian / August 25, 2008 7:14 PM

Not very important—doesn't make or break my choice.

Graumach / August 25, 2008 9:21 PM

Depends on the candidate, each and every time. Ultimately, it's more about strategy than anything else. Lots of circumstantials. Did Quayle dent the ticket? He should have, but he didn't. But does anyone remember Stockdale? (Admittedly, an extreme example to cite...but still.)

I think Zach summed it up very well, actaully -- including the "slightly" qualifier about Lieberman. But it should probably be pointed out that the veep selection is most likely more a factor for McCain, since (echoing what Pedro said) there are a number of people who have expressed concern about McCain's age.

m / August 26, 2008 9:50 AM

like carrie, im not on the fence about who i'm voting for, but as zach pointed out, it might affect others more, which could be worrisome.

i trust completely the candidate that i'm rooting for, so whoever he chooses i would also trust. maybe not the best way to go about things, but i will do more research as voting day looms nearer, to make sure there are no dead bodies in the closet or whatever.

Gaigen / August 26, 2008 4:27 PM

Think of McCain's possible choice of Lieberman – if McCain chooses him, he has a much better chance of pulling in centrist voters who may dislike McCain's stance on certain social issues, but prefer Lieberman's slightly more liberal takes.

...and, in turn, losing a big chunk of the conservative vote which McCain desperately needs and courted but who can't stomach Lieberman. Not gonna happen. Not enough crossover centerists to make up for the loss of the conservatives who already have reservations about McCain being a "true" conservative.

printdude / August 27, 2008 8:38 AM

Not important to me at all this time around. My vote has been locked in for Obama since that day he announced he was running for the Big Slot.

catgirl / August 27, 2008 9:01 AM

my cats are very supportive of obama. and since the MAN wont let them even REGISTER to vote, i will vote for them. they think mccain is too old.