Gotta Ask

On November 5, 1912, Woodrow Wilson was elected president. He beat out Teddy Roosevelt, who was running as the candidate of the Progressive party. Incumbent president William Howard Taft came in third place. As amazing as TR's showing as the only third-party candidate to come in second in a presidential election, the real story took place just over three weeks before. On October 14, 1912 on his way to make a campaign speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest. He gave the speech before getting medical attention.

Eight presidents and seven vice presidents have died during their terms in office, yet no one nominated has ever died before the election. Teddy was as close as we've come.

I bring this info to your attention as a preface to an important question:

By the end of this week both parties will have their nominees in place, with vice presidential candidates handpicked and nominated as well.

What would happened to the tickets if there was an untimely death? Are the political parties committed to the legacy of the candidates? In other words: If something were to happen to either Presidential candidate, would the vice president selection--a person who was not vetted by the primary system--be the new candidate?

Does that "heartbeat away" include the time before the election?

Would the voters feel comfortable with either of the VP candidates as their first choice for president?

Because it seems to me that if the answer is "no," if you are questioning the choice before the election, you had better question the choice before you vote.