Bowen: 5 running mate rules
Monday, Jun 17, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* With Illinois’ new law requiring gubernatorial candidates to choose their running mates before they file their official candidacy forms, there’s been a lot of debate about what the candidates should do.
My pal Tom Bowen wrote this about the topic and I decided it was definitely worth posting here for your perusal…
There are time honored rules to picking a running mate that have been practiced at the presidential level for a generation. Illinois gubernatorial candidates would be wise to follow these rules while modifying them to fit this situation.
The first and most important thing to realize is that unlike the presidential process, Illinois gubernatorial candidates will now be picking running mates before any votes are cast. In the presidential process, the vice president is chosen after the Parties choose their nominees. That means there will be a limited field of candidates who will be a good fit to be a running mate, so you must start this process early and you must run background checks on your choices. If you don’t vet them, you run the risk of the media doing it for you.
On to the rules.
Rule #1: Do no harm.
The risk of choosing an aspiring, up and coming, or even experienced politician to join your team is that they will want to be the focus. Sarah Palin is a perfect example of what kind of harm a reckless running mate can do to your team.
Rule #2: If you weren’t running, who would you want to be your Governor?
This is a much more important rule at the presidential level due to the danger of the job, but if you were not governor, who would you want to have the job? Who shares your values or your philosophy on how government should be run? The job is to fill in for you if you cannot or will not continue, so choose someone you think would be a good governor.
Rule #3: Balance is overrated.
This rule compliments Rule #2, but it should be kept in mind that voters do not vote for the bottom of the ticket, they vote for the top. Brining key regional or political support to a ticket is a minimal asset at the end of the day. Do not be afraid to choose a running mate from a similar background or skill set and do not overemphasize “balance.” Fitting square pegs into round holes doesn’t work.
Rule #4: Raising money is a very, very important job.
If a running mate is not going to do call time, show up at fundraisers, or can bring a base of donors to your team, they are lacking a key asset. Money is necessary to be successful in politics, and every running mate has to pitch in.
Rule #5: Pick somebody who is willing to draw a sharp contrast.
The best running mates are the ones who are not afraid to level an attack at your opponents. The press has to cover what they say and it can force opponents to answer the points your campaign wants them to make. If a running mate is timid, tainted, or flat out unwilling to get down in the mud for your benefit, take a pass on them.
There are many more considerations that go into this process, but these five rules are above and beyond the most important to pay attention to. Since candidates will be choosing their running mates so early in this process, it gives voters a window into how they make decisions. Let’s see who chooses wisely.
Discuss.
- The Captain - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 2:20 pm:
I’m convinced: I pick Bowen.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 2:21 pm:
I am “out” today, but pulled this up to Post;
Awesome, and I hope it’s taken to heart. If I get back out Oswego way, I might have more, but saying its Spot On might say it all
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 2:27 pm:
Added for Quinn’s reelection campaign:
Rule #6: Pick somebody who is willing to be associated with you.
- Ghost - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 2:32 pm:
The first 3 rules should just be number 1 repeated 3 times….
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 2:34 pm:
===Money is necessary to be successful in politics, and every running mate has to pitch in===
Agreed, except if any LG candidate had a donor base or a special talent in this important area, they’d be running for a different office, one that actually has some constitutional duties.
The only constitutional duty for an LG is to maintain a pulse for four years in the unlikely event that the Governor can’t.
- walkinfool - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 2:40 pm:
One of the best arguments IMHO, when passing this bill, was that two-candidate teams can offer the voters the choice to have two complementary roles defined in the Executive: e.g. CEO and COO, Growth Leader and Internal Efficiency Hound, Long-term Planner and Short-term Doer, Political Grinder and Public Relater. Whatever they think would work best to meet the challenges.
Two highly-competent executives, with complementary roles, beats one Topper and one Tag-Along.
These packages can be created early in the primary process, and sold to the public as effective teams. Whether any of our current potential candidates can think strategically, and understand executive management well enough to pull something like this off, remains to be seen.
- Keep Calm and Carry On - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 2:45 pm:
Our current LG doesn’t seem to fit very neatly into many of these “rules”.
Perhaps rules are made to be broken?
- wordslinger - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 2:50 pm:
–The only constitutional duty for an LG is to maintain a pulse for four years in the unlikely event that the Governor can’t. –
Or if a governor can’t avoid any unfortunate federal entanglements.
- Bill White - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 2:54 pm:
As a corollary to this:
===The first and most important thing to realize is that unlike the presidential process, Illinois gubernatorial candidates will now be picking running mates before any votes are cast. *** That means there will be a limited field of candidates who will be a good fit to be a running mate, so you must start this process early and you must run background checks on your choices. ===
Current IL law creates a novel situation in American politics and I believe this creates a “Sellers Market” for qualified Lt. Gov. candidates.
Qualified candidates can expect more in exchange for agreeing to run, than in prior cycles.
Also too, walkinfool is spot on with this (IMHO):
=== Two highly-competent executives, with complementary roles, beats one Topper and one Tag-Along. ===
- Tom B. - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:20 pm:
47th Ward,
Some truth to that, but there’s room to pluck somebody out of the business, non-profit, or public service world in a way that you can’t at federal level where the stakes are higher.
Say you’re president of a university (and no, this isn’t about Poshard), and you were asked to run. It’s not only plausible, but you’d be able to bring donors to the table that don’t normally thing about politics at the State level.
- will county Democrat - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:32 pm:
The Illinois Lt. Governor’s office is to VPOTUS as bullpen catcher is to setup pitcher.
To make a comparison between VPOTUS and Lt. Gov. is almost absurd. Although the Vice Presidency, as John Nance Garner put it, “is not worth a bucket of warm spit,” the VPOTUS is still only a heartbeat away from the most powerful office in the world. Moreover, the vast majority of voters take notice of who the Vice Presidential candidates are.
I bet barely a majority of Illinoisans would be able to name the current Lt. Gov. And, despite the fact that a Lt. Gov. in Illinois stands a pretty good chance of becoming Governor (given the high rate of ex-Guvs in jail), the office of Governor doesn’t amount to much in Madigan’s Springfield.
- Michael Westen - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:34 pm:
Balance does work sometimes. Bob Kustra obviously helped Jim Edgar in the northwest suburbs in 1990. Few could argue that Bill Brady would have been better served by a similar suburban office holder. Considering the slim margin, and where the deficit came from, it might even have put him over the top.
Also, a LG candidate could bring assets besides money to the table. Two that come to mind are expertise in a specific area, or a large group of loyal, dedicated workers, whether ideological or motivated by some other reason.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:40 pm:
–Bob Kustra obviously helped Jim Edgar in the northwest suburbs in 1990.–
Why is that obvious? Edgar had won statewide a couple of times before.
I think Neil Hartigan’s inevitable public temper tantrum (about DUI laws or something?) probably helped a little bit in that race.
- soccermom - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:50 pm:
47th, I hesitate to contradict. But the LTG also is expected to hold a mirror in front of the Governor’s mouth every week or so.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:51 pm:
It wasn’t like Edgar picked Kustra in 1990 either. They both won their nominations separately.
And Kustra quit the job because he was so bored. Dave O’Neal quit too, back in the 1980s. Other than Quinn, the only LGs in my lifetime who eventually made it to the mansion were George Ryan and Sam Shapiro, two of Kankakee’s finest.
At least the VPOTUS gets a tie-breaking vote in the Senate. Illinois’ LG gets only what the Governor gives him or her. It’s not a job for anyone with immediate ambition.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:53 pm:
–At least the VPOTUS gets a tie-breaking vote in the Senate.–
Not anymore.
- J - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:53 pm:
Will County Dem:
Do people pay any more attention to the State Treasurer/Comptroller? The LG position is a platform that is what you make of it.
You can set yourself up for a run for higher office from there, but you’re going to have to work at it in a way that certain other state constitutional offices don’t need to (ie Attorney General).
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:54 pm:
===Not anymore.===
What did I miss?
- wordslinger - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 3:58 pm:
–What did I miss?–
These days, anything of consequence needs cloture first. Sixty is the new 51. No ties.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:02 pm:
I pick 1, 4 and 5. And I think rule 6 explained above is true with more than just PQ. Since 47 is correct that there really are no duties, I don’t think #2 matters much, and I don’t think #3 means very much.
I would add a new #6 which is, Pick a running mate you don’t mind spending time with. If they annoy the living crap out of you, a challenging endeavor (running a statewide campaign) can become intolerable.
- will county Democrat - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:02 pm:
J Monday:
I agree with you. You can launch a good career from an LG spot (e.g. George H. Ryan (pre-conviction), Paul Simon, etc).
I was just saying that the comparison with VPOTUS doesn’t quite fit. Lots of aspiring pols would love to be VPOTUS, whereas a smart Illinois pol would take AG over LG without thinking twice.
- Bill White - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:03 pm:
The Lt Gov selection will have same impact in November 2014 as Lt Gov selections have had over the years - little to none.
What could be different will be the impact on the primary.
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:20 pm:
I would agree with all 5 and #6 find someone you can tolerate-life is too short.
We may be looking at this too much from the historical perspective instead of the forward-looking one. Tom’s rules are aimed at the future.
The If you the candidate buy in to the Rules, you may buy in to the notion that your LG may be able to do more than fog a mirror and go to funerals.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:23 pm:
=The Lt Gov selection will have same impact in November 2014 as Lt Gov selections have had over the years - little to none.=
Some people are known for making some really dumb mistakes. And this could be one of them, in which case, it would be difficult to ignore.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:25 pm:
===it would be difficult to ignore.===
Like if someone intentionally picked Jason Plummer or Scott Lee Cohen as their running mate.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:29 pm:
I dare you to say that it “couldn’t get any worse,” 47th. At least with the two gentlemen you’ve referenced, you generally know what can be expected.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:30 pm:
Ambrosio Medrano?
- Will Caskey - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:33 pm:
Rule #6: Pay Tom Bowen market rate to advise your selection.
Good thoughts all.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 4:35 pm:
–Ambrosio Medrano?–
He will be someone’s running mate: Blago’s, in the prison exercise yard.
Maybe he can get his old cell back.
- Michael Westen - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 5:11 pm:
wordslinger maybe you weren’t paying attention during the 1990 race for Governor. There was no tantrum by Hartigan-only a hard-fought campaign barely won by the moderate Edgar-Kustra team. Edgar’s two previous statewide wins were cake walks over weak opponents. Not the same as running for Governor against a well-funded, respected opponent.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jun 17, 13 @ 6:43 pm:
Off topic, I know, but I really need to vent.
Our next US Attorney faces a huge “dilemma:” corruption or violence? OMG, is Rahm, Dick, or Kirk his boss?
Who makes this kind of crap up? Is this somehow supposed to set the public’s expectations one way or another–or just make all of his “bosses” look “odd.”
Seriously.