What would happen if two candidates decided to pair up at this point?

[Composed Thinker]

Say, for instance, Howard Dean and Wesley Clark announce in a few weeks that they would like to run as a team. Or Dean-Graham. Or Kerry-Gephardt. Or Kerry-Graham. Or Kerry-Clark. And so on. You get the idea.

Would two candidates pairing up at this point push them to the front of the race?

[LoZoccolo]

1. Dean/Clark

What it says up there.

[Pepperbelly]

2. NEVER happen ...

That stuff is ALWAYS ad hoc.

[Composed Thinker]

3. I know it's very unlikely,

but what do you think would happen?

[JackSwift]

4. And I thought it was going to be a gay marriage thread

Hot candidate on candidate sex.

[Composed Thinker]

5. Now that would be something

[mandyky]

6. Dean/Wilson

We need a VP who can also do diplomatic work!

[Cheswick2.0]

7. they couldn't officially

however I have also thought that it would be interesting to see this happen. On the other hand, I think most candidates want to keep their options open.

[Minstrel Boy]

8. it's an exciting idea

Has it ever happened before? I find the selection of the VP candidate one of the most dismaying features of the US electoral system. If the VP choices were known well before the convention it could help party members make a much more knowledgable decision.

A potential drawback would be what to do if the VP choice became an unforseen liability. This is always a risk, but if the choice is known long before the election it gives the opposition that much more time to dig up dirt. Then what to do: waffle and drop him/her as in 1972, or stand by the choice regardless?

[MiltonLeBerle]

9. The top job has become almost too big for one person.

There should be a change/division of duties between the President and Vice-President. One to handle Foriegn Affairs/military issues, and one to handle Domestic/Economic issues.

[aquart]

10. They would deprive primary voters of a chance to choose.

You know that concept: voting for a candidate?