Different Gore Running Mate in 2000

[Israel]

So, say, Gore decided not to pick Lieberman for VP. Who would he have chosen, and what would have been the effect on the election?

 

[RepMR]

Bob Graham was one of the finalists, almost certainly would've won Gore Florida and the election given Graham's popularity in the state

 

[Pericles]

John Kerry could work, winning over liberals while not being anti-Clinton and deliver New Hampshire.

John Edwards was a finalist but he'd only been Senator for 2 years and didn't do great in 2004.

Graham's a good choice but the press might focus on his eccentricity.

 

[GeographyDude]

I understand the conventional wisdom with veep selection is to select the smallest negative. That it's about avoiding negatives rather than adding a positive to the ticket.

Of course, with Florida being razor thin, even the smallest of differences could have won it for Gore.

 

[True Grit]

Jeanne Shaheen would be pretty good, given she'd almost certainly flip New Hampshire (and thus the election).

 

[Just a Rube]

Keep in mind that Lieberman was an attempt to make a play for Florida (by increasing turnout in the fairly significant Florida Jewish community in particular). Indeed, he was probably a net positive (his selection generated some of the only significant positive media coverage Gore experienced all campaign). Most of the issues that caused Lieberman to become unpopular didn't really become prominent until after 9/11; in 2000 Lieberman was best known as generic New England Democratic Senator who also happened to be the first Jewish candidate for VPOTUS.

So a different candidate could easily end up worse for Gore.

 

[GeographyDude]

and while we're at it, I was disappointed that Gore endorsed Dean in the '04 Democratic primary.

I mean, he selects Lieberman as his vice-presidential nominee and the person potentially a heartbeat away from the presidency, and then he can't find a way to support him four years later in the primary? ?

Or, follow your mother's advice that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Al could have just stayed on the sidelines.

 

[Indicus]

Keep in mind that Lieberman was an attempt to make a play for Florida (by increasing turnout in the fairly significant Florida Jewish community in particular). Indeed, he was probably a net positive (his selection generated some of the only significant positive media coverage Gore experienced all campaign). Most of the issues that caused Lieberman to become unpopular didn't really become prominent until after 9/11; in 2000 Lieberman was best known as generic New England Democratic Senator who also happened to be the first Jewish candidate for VPOTUS.

So a different candidate could easily end up worse for Gore.

Or better. He was literally a butterfly wing's flap from being president.

 

[dw93]

and while we're at it, I was disappointed that Gore endorsed Dean in the '04 Democratic primary.

I mean, he selects Lieberman as his vice-presidential nominee and the person potentially a heartbeat away from the presidency, and then he can't find a way to support him four years later in the primary? ?

Or, follow your mother's advice that if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Al could have just stayed on the sidelines.

I think Gore's endorsement of Dean, IRC, was solely due to Lieberman's support of the Iraq War.

Anyway, to answer the question of the thread, I think Graham, Shaheen, or Kerry would be the best choices for Gore. Either one would've flipped a crucial swing state (New Hampshire for Shaheen and Kerry, Florida for Graham).