Question:
What importance does a Vice Presidential candidate have?
It’s always important to have a strong VP candidate, as he or
she is the one who will take office if the President has died
or become incapacitated, removed from office, or has resigned.
Vice Presidents are often chosen to
balance a ticket.
In other words, if the Presidential candidate is very
conservative, a more moderate VP can attract voters who are
close to the middle of the political spectrum. Similarly,
parties often choose a VP candidate who is from a different
part of the country as the Presidential candidate. A popular
VP candidate from a swing state can turn an election.