Now that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have selected their vice presidential nominees Tim Walz and JD Vance, the question is whether they will help Democrats and Republicans increase their chances of winning in the November elections. But what role have vice presidential candidates historically played in presidential elections in the United States?
Vice President Kamala Harris enthusiastically introduced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
“He has been a model chief executive in his state and with the experience he has I can tell you that Tim Walz will be ready to serve from day one,” she said.
Even the Republican candidate for president, Donald Trump, has hailed the achievements of his chosen candidate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. But the former president recently downplayed the importance of the vice presidential candidate.
“I think it is well documented historically that the vice president, as far as the elections are concerned, has no influence, practically no influence. Everything has to do with the presidential candidate,” he said.
Researchers explain that because vice presidents operate in the shadow of presidents, their role is often misunderstood and underappreciated.
However, they are first in line if the president should be replaced and critical to the implementation of their party's program.
“Their role is to help advance and pursue the president's policies as well as to strengthen his ability as a national and international leader,” historian Joel Goldstein tells VOA.
To some extent, the selection of vice presidential candidates can increase the energy of the campaign, Mr. Goldstein says.
“The election of Al Gore by Bill Clinton in 1992 was very good. The combination of these two young candidates from the South, sent the message of the change of generations”.
The analyst called Republican Senator John McCain's choice of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008, “a bad decision.”
“She turned into a figure that was put into play during the campaign and I think it hurt Senator McCain's candidacy. But that was not the reason why he lost,” he says.
In this election, Democrats are hoping that the achievements and economic policies of candidate Tim Walz will help the campaign.
“His pro-family policies are not focused on abortion control, but on economic support for families, whether in education, health, housing, or employment,” says sociologist Elisabeth Clemens.
JD Vance will help lay out Republican ideas, says VOA analyst Peter Loge.
“The vision that the Republicans are presenting is that of an America where once upon a time if middle class working families worked hard and played by the rules they could make it and now that America is gone and if you vote for them, that America will come back “, says Prof. Peter Loge of George Washington University.
Even if the vice presidential candidates rarely make a big difference in the election, analysts say voters will pay attention to how the candidates in this election communicate with the electorate and how well they understand their concerns.
