Most Nominees don't pick a former primary opponent as VP

[Dem4Life1102]

393. OK

2012 (D): Obama / Biden (Biden was STILL Obama's primary rival)

Biden didn't run in any primaries in 12 and their GOP opponent Romey chose Ryan who didn't run in any primaries

2008 (D): Obama / Biden

True but McCain choose Palin who didn't run in any primaries.

2004 (D): John Kerry and John Edwards

OK but you leave out 2000. Neither Lieberman or Cheney ran in the primaries that year.

1996 (R): Bob Dole and Jack Kemp

OK but again you leave out both 1992 and 1988. Gore didn't run in 92 and neither Bentsen or Qualye ran in 88

1984 (R): Ronald Reagan and Bush I (Bush was STILL Reagan's primary rival)

There were no GOP primaries that year and Ferraro did run in the Dem primaries.

1980 (R): Ronald Reagan and Bush I

Yes but you omitted 76. Neither Mondale or Dole ran in the primaries.

1972 (R): Nixon / Agnew (Agnew was STILL Nixon's primary running mate)

True and neither of McGovern's running mates ran in the primaries.

1968 (R): Nixon / Agnew

Agnew didn't run in any primaries and neither did Muskie.

And in 1964 Goldwater's running mate William Miller didn't run in any primaries. And Johnson was opposed by George Wallace in the Dem primaries not by Humphrey.

1960 (D): John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson

Actually Johnson didn't run in any primaries (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries#Candidates) but made a play for the nomination at the convention and Nixon's running mate Henry Cabot Lodge didn't run in primaries either.

1956 (D): Adlai Stevenson and Estes Kefauver

OK but in 1952 Stevenson nor his running mate John Sparkman ran in any primaries. They were choosen at the convention. And Nixon didn't run in any primaries either.

1948 (R): Thomas Dewey and Earl Warren (Warren was a favorite-son candidate)

Yes and Truman's primary opponent was William Julian not his running mate Alben Barkley.

1944 (R): Thomas Dewey and John Bricker

OK and FDR's primary opponents were Joseph Ferguson and Harry Byrd not his VP Truman.

In 1940 neither FDR or Wendell Willkie picked a primary opponent at VP.

1936 (R): Alf Landon and Frank Knox

Yes and FDR's primary opponent Henry Breckinridge wasn't his running mate.

1932 (D): Franklin Roosevelt and John Nance Garner (X3)

Yes and Hoover had 4 primary opponents that year, none of whom were his running mate.

1928 (R): Herbert Hoover and Charles Curtis

Curtis didn't run in any GOP primary (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1928_Republican_Party_presidential_primaries) nor did Smith's VP Joe Robinson.

And since you skipped 1924, neither Coolidge's or Davis' running mates ran in any primaries, in fact neither Davis he was chosen at the convention. In 1920 Cox chose FDR as his running mate, who didn't run in a primary that year. And Harding chose Coolidge who also didn't run in a primary that year.

1916 (R): Charles Evans Hughes and Charles Fairbanks

True

1912 (D): Woodrow Wilson and Thomas Marshall (Marshall was a favorite-son candidate)

Marshall didn't run in any primary in 1912 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1912_Democratic_Party_presidential_primaries) neither did Taft's running mate Butler.

Since there were no primaries before 1912 there is no point to go on. But let's not forget our latest election in 2016 where neither VP candidate Pence or Kaine ran in their parties primaries.

So in the 27 presidential elections since the beginning of the primary system, with a total of 52 Republican or Democratic nominees, there were a total of 13 times that a nominee choose a former primary opponent as their running mate. 13 is 25% of the time. So 75% of the time they didn't. Now what would you call the norm 75% or 25%? I think my point has been proved. Thanks.