Running Mates

Running Mates


Latest Episodes

Episode 11: 2004 - Edwards v. Cheney
July 11, 2020

Amidst the War on Terror, President George W. Bush and his VP, Dick Cheney, are up for reelection against Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. In what turns into a presidential contest over their respective military records, patriotism, and foreign policy cr

Episode 10: 2000 - Cheney v. Lieberman (Part 2)
June 27, 2020

In the part two of our 2000 election episode, Lars and Michael discuss who Democratic candidate Al Gore should have put on the ticket instead of Joe Lieberman. They conclude with a broad analysis of the 2000 election, the direction of the parties and deci

Episode 9: 2000 - Cheney v. Lieberman (Part 1)
June 20, 2020

In the part one of our 2000 election episode, the impeached president Bill Clinton's Vice President Al Gore runs for the presidency and picks Joe Lieberman to try and distance himself from Clinton. Meanwhile, Republicans seek a compassionate conservative

Episode 8: 1996 - Kemp v. Gore
June 06, 2020

President Bill Clinton and his vice president, Al Gore, are up for reelection and after a bruising midterm two years prior, Democrats have moved decisively to the center. Republicans face a crisis of confidence and their candidate, Bob Dole chooses throwb

Episode 7: 1992 - Gore v. Quayle
May 23, 2020

The Cold War has ended and President George H.W. Bush and his vice president, Dan Quayle, are running for reelection in a tough economy. Republicans push Bush to drop Quayle from the ticket but he stays the course to take on Bill Clinton, who makes the un

Episode 6: 1988 - Bentsen v. Quayle
May 09, 2020

The Reagan years are coming to an end and his vice president, George H.W. Bush is running for president himself against Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis. Lars and Michael discuss Bush's pick of young Indiana Senator Dan Quayle as his running mate and

Episode 5: 1984 - Ferraro v. Bush
April 25, 2020

Walter Mondale figures he needs a game changing vice presidential pick to have any chance against the Reagan-Bush reelection in 1984. Lars and Michael discuss how Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman on a major party presidential ticket, holds up as a runni

Episode 4: 1980 - Bush v. Mondale
April 11, 2020

With Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale up for reelection, Lars and Michael discuss the foreign policy and economic crises that perpetuate a strong challenge from Ronald Reagan, who placates establishment Republicans by putting George H.W. Bush on the ticket

Episode 3: 1976 - Mondale v. Dole
March 28, 2020

Lars and Michael discuss the first post-Watergate presidential election and how Gerald Ford fails to excite or unite his party by picking Bob Dole as his running mate, while Jimmy Carter manages to capture optimism and credibility with Walter Mondale.

Episode 2: 1972 - Shriver v. Agnew
February 22, 2020

Lars and Michael discuss Richard Nixon's deliberation over whether or not to keep his vice president, Spiro Agnew, on the ticket and take a deep dive into the bleak prospects for the Democratic nominee George McGovern and his struggle to even find a runni