Behind the choice of running mates

Afinal nail has been driven into the coffin of one of the most venerable calculations in American politics by the selection of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as running mates, respectively, of Barack Obama and John McCain. The equation in question is that a crucial asset of running mates is that they can carry their home states and thus contribute to assembling the 270 electoral votes needed to claim the presidency. Consider, then, that Delaware and Alaska offer a total of six electoral votes.

By Ross K. Baker

September 6, 2008