How much do Vice Presidential candidates effect elections?

[skipos]

Have there ever been elections that were made or broken by the VP candidate? I know that a VP candidate might put their home state in play (ie. Warner or Schweitzer as a VP would make a dem pickup of VA or MT more likely) but how much does a VP typially effect the general election? How have VPs effected elections in the past?

On the republican side consider Cheney in 04 and 00, Kemp in 96, Quayle in 92 and 88, GHW Bush in 84 and 80, Dole in 76, Agnew in 72 and 68, etc. On the democratic side consider Edwards in 04, Lieberman in 00, Gore in 96 and 92, Bentsen in 88, Ferraro in 84, Mondale in 80 and 76, Shriver in 72, etc.

[Pab Sungenis]

1. It has happened.

It's generally held that Johnson helped Kennedy in 1960.

[blogslut]

2. I don't know about the overall

but Gore is the main reason I voted for Clinton.

[rock]

3. I believe it rare to have a significant effect

[AndyTiedye]

4. Vice Presidents and VP Candidates Perform Vital Functions

Life Insurance. And IMPEACHMENT insurance.

[Yupster]

5. It just doesn't seem to matter much

Of your above examples, maybe Gore in 92 helped Clinton win Tennessee, but then again, maybe he would have won it anyway.

Ferraro in 84 did what she was supposed to do in that it made some news for a campaign which was seen as dead. Didn't work in the end, but I think well worth the shot.

Quayle probably hurt Bush a bit (1 %?) in 1988. Enough to change any states? Maybe but probably not.

Bush missed a great opportunity by not replacing Quayle in 1992. Maybe a VP Powell or Kassebaum would have been enough to turn that race. Maybe.

Mostly doesn't seem to make any diffderence though.

If Kerry chose Graham of Florida? Maybe wins that state and the presidency.

It seems like going for one state with the pick might be the smartest way to go.

[WI_DEM]

6. They do make a difference usually if its a poor choice

like Agnew in '68 probably cost Nixon votes but not enough or even Quayle in '88--again it was the poor campaign of Dukakis which made it possible for Bush I to win (remember Duke had a 17-point lead after the Dem convention that year). Bob Dole is thougth to have been somewhat of a liability to Ford in '76.

Ocassionally they help such as LBJ in 1960--Kennedy would probably not have won Texas and a couple of other southern states without him--and would have lost. Muskie was considered a plus for Humphrey in '68 but he didn't really add alot of states except Maine to the Democratic ticket.

I think that it is rare that they are a huge help except for perhaps their homestates (and then that doesn't even always happen), but on the other hand a poor choice could hurt.