2004 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection

2004 Democratic vice presidential nomination

July 6, 2004 (2004-07-06)

Nominee John Edwards Home state North Carolina

Previous Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 2004 election. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry won the 2004 Democratic nomination for President of the United States, and chose North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his running mate on July 6, 2004. The Kerry–Edwards ticket ultimately lost to the Bush–Cheney ticket in the general election.

Selection

One of the major criteria considered to be a factor in selecting a vice-presidential candidate was the ability to deliver a traditionally Republican or a swing state in the November election. Every successful Democratic presidential campaign since 1960 had included a politician from a swing state (usually in the South) who helped deliver one or more states for the Democrats. As of late June, the charismatic Edwards was the first choice of Democratic voters, according to several polls; some pundits attributed this to high name recognition, due to his runner-up status in the primaries.

Reported Shortlist

Pundits and those close to the Kerry campaign indicated that the vice-presidential selection had narrowed to five potential choices.

• 
  Retired Army General and 2004 presidential candidate
  Wesley Clark
  from Arkansas
• 
  Senator and 2004 presidential candidate
  John Edwards
  from North Carolina
  (1999–2005)
• 
  Representative and 2004 presidential candidate
  Dick Gephardt
  from Missouri
  (1977–2005)
• 
  Senator
  Bob Graham
  from Florida
  (1987–2005)
• 
  Governor
  Tom Vilsack
  from Iowa
  (1999–2007)

Announcement

On the morning of July 6, 2004, Kerry announced the selection of John Edwards as his running mate. However, at 10 p.m. on the night before the official announcement, the information was leaked by an airport worker who saw Edwards's name being painted on Kerry's plane, which was to be used to announce his choice of running mate. On July 6, the Kerry campaign sent an e-mail message to his supporters at about 8:15 a.m. EDT informing them of the choice, and made the formal announcement for 9 a.m. EDT in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Media speculation on possible vice presidential candidates

Members of Congress

• 
  Senator
  Evan Bayh
  from Indiana
  (1999–2011)
• 
  Senator
  Joe Biden
  from Delaware
  (1973–2009)
• 
  Former Senator
  Bill Bradley
  from New Jersey
  (1979–1997)
• 
  Former Senator
  Max Cleland
  from Georgia
  (1997–2003)
• 
  Senator
  Hillary Clinton
  from New York
  (2001–2009)
• 
  Representative
  Jim Clyburn
  from South Carolina
  (1993–present)
• 
  Senator and Senate Majority Leader
  Tom Daschle
  from South Dakota
  (1987–2005)
• 
  Senator
  Dick Durbin
  from Illinois
  (1997–present)
• 
  Senator
  Dianne Feinstein
  from California
  (1992–2023)
• 
  Former Senator
  John Glenn
  from Ohio
  (1974–1999)
• 
  Former Representative
  Lee H. Hamilton
  from Indiana
  (1965–1999)
• 
  Senator
  Ted Kennedy
  from Massachusetts
  (1962–2009)
• 
  Former Senator
  Bob Kerrey
  from Nebraska
  (1989–2001)
• 
  Senator
  Mary Landrieu
  from Louisiana
  (1997–2015)
• 
  Representative
  John Lewis
  from Georgia
  (1987–2020)
• 
  Senator and 2004 presidential candidate
  Joe Lieberman
  from Connecticut
  (1989–2013)
• 
  Senator
  Blanche Lincoln
  from Arkansas
  (1999–2011)
• 
  Republican Senator
  John McCain
  from Arizona
  (1987–2018)
• 
  Senator
  Bill Nelson
  from Florida
  (2001–2019)
• 
  Senator
  Sam Nunn
  from Georgia
  (1972–1997)
• 
  Representative and House Minority Leader
  Nancy Pelosi
  from California
  (1987–present)

Governors

• 
  Janet Napolitano
  of Arizona
  (2003–2009)
• 
  Bill Richardson
  of New Mexico
  (2003–2011)
• 
  Ed Rendell
  of Pennsylvania
  (2003–2011)
• 
  Jeanne Shaheen
  of New Hampshire
  (1997–2003)
• 
  Mark Warner
  of Virginia
  (2002–2006)

Federal executive branch officials

• 
  Former Secretary of the Treasury
  Robert Rubin
  (1995–1999)

Other individuals

• 
  Former United States Special Envoy for Middle East Peace
  Anthony Zinni
  from Virginia
  (2001–2003)

See also

• John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign
• 2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries
• 2004 Democratic National Convention
• 2004 United States presidential election
• List of United States major party presidential tickets