So I'm running for President and I'm trying to decide on a running mate.

[Ocelot II]

How do I choose? What factors and characteristics should I consider? Maybe these:

1. Compatibility. I will have to campaign with this person, and if I win, work closely with them for at least the next four years. Do I know them already? Have I worked with them before? If not, how will I know whether we will get along, especially through difficult circumstances? This factor strikes me as crucial.

2. Qualifications. This is a necessary and obvious consideration. The running mate must be someone who can step in as president if that becomes necessary. Have they held elected office, and if so, what, and for how long? Have they had to make difficult or unpopular decisions regarding policy? Have they ever had executive branch or similar experience? Any military experience (not necessary but a strong favorability aspect)?

3. What's the vibe a prospective running mate projects? Is it consistent with mine? Should it be? For example, Harris projects a vibe of enthusiasm, positivity and joy. Should her running mate have the same vibe or should he be more serious and wonky? Does there have to be a vibe balance or should both vibe the same way?

4. Image and presentation. Will they effectively articulate the campaign's positions and vision? Are they someone voters are likely to relate to, listen to and like?

5. Are there any skeletons in their closets, either political or personal? Personal stuff requires careful and sometimes intrusive vetting; we don't want surprises (e.g., Thomas Eagleton or John Edwards). Political skeletons might be past votes or policies inconsistent with mine or with the previous administration. If there are some, are they major or minor, and can they be explained or justified?

6. Geography and identity. Conventional wisdom says that a running mate should be from a different part of the country from the presidential candidate, and that if they are chosen the ticket will inevitably win their state or region. That, however, has not always been true (in fact, it often hasn't been). The better question is, if my running mate is not from Very Important State X but is otherwise a strong VP candidate, will we be able to persuade the voters of Very Important State X to vote for us anyhow? Even more importantly, what kind of relationships have they had with voting blocs of minorities, POC, LGBTQ, etc. if they are not themselves among them?

Since I am not and never will be a presidential candidate, I won't have to think about how to choose a running mate. Some of these factors can be considered very publicly by those of us observing from the cheap seats, but the one we can't determine is compatibility. Only Harris knows and can decide which of these very qualified people is the one she can work with most effectively and comfortably. I think many people are focusing excessively on the single aspect of geography, which IMO might be the least consequential. YMMV, of course. I'm just sitting here, thinking.