This story was originally published on nationaljournal.com on May 16, 2016. When people discuss vice presidential running mates, I’m always surprised that they tend to get fixated on one factor to the exclusion of everything else. The truth is that there are a lot of considerations in selecting a running mate. Among them are geography, demographics, ideology, ability, and potential skeletons in the closet. Then there is an elusive and intangible X factor, when a selection might be wise but somewhat unpredictable. Of course there is also the matter of whether a veep prospect would make a good president, but let’s not get macabre here. A running mate from Ohio or Florida might help carry those states, and in a very close race, a Virginian might be a plus. A candidate who appeals to a whole region has an obvious advantage, but few fit the bill. In 2012, the turnout rate among African-Americans exceeded that of whites for the first time. What are the odds of that happening again in 2016? Probably not great, so maybe Sen. Cory Booker would
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