1984 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 1984 election. Former Vice President Walter Mondale won the 1984 Democratic nomination for President of the United States, and chose New York Representative Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate. Ferraro was the first woman to be a part of a national ticket for a major party. Mondale chose Ferraro in hopes of energizing the base and winning the votes of women, but also because he viewed her as a solid legislator who had won the approval of Speaker Tip O'Neill.[1] John R. Reilly, an attorney and a senior adviser to Mondale, managed the search for a running mate.[2] Mondale seriously considered his major rival for the 1984 presidential nomination, Senator Gary Hart, but Mondale refused to consider a second rival, Jesse Jackson, on the grounds that the differences between their policies were too great.[3] The Mondale-Ferraro ticket ultimately lost to the Reagan-Bush ticket.

New York Representative Geraldine Ferraro was chosen as the Democratic nominee for vice president in 1984.

Selection

Finalists

[3]

• 
  Mayor of Los Angeles
  Tom Bradley
  from California
  (1973–1993)
• 
  Mayor of San Antonio
  Henry Cisneros
  from Texas
  (1981–1989)
• 
  Mayor of San Francisco
  Dianne Feinstein
  from California
  (1978–1988)
• 
  Representative
  Geraldine Ferraro
  from New York
  (1979–1985)
• 
  Senator
  Gary Hart
  from Colorado
  (1975–1987)

Media speculation on possible vice presidential candidates

Members of Congress[4][5][6]

• 
  Senator
  Lloyd Bentsen
  from Texas
  (1971–1993)
• 
  Senator
  Joe Biden
  from Delaware
  (1973–2009)
• 
  Senator
  Bill Bradley
  from New Jersey
  (1979–1997)
• 
  Senator
  Dale Bumpers
  from Arkansas
  (1975–1999)
• 
  Senator
  Chris Dodd
  from Connecticut
  (1981–2011)
• 
  Senator
  John Glenn
  from Ohio
  (1974–1999)
• 
  Senator
  Fritz Hollings
  from South Carolina
  (1966–2005)
• 
  Senator
  Sam Nunn
  from Georgia
  (1972–1997)

Governors[4][5][6]

• 
  Governor
  Richard Celeste
  from Ohio
  (1983–1991)
• 
  Governor
  Bill Clinton
  from Arkansas
  (1977–1981;1983–1992)
• 
  Governor
  Mario Cuomo
  from New York
  (1983–1994)
• 
  Governor
  Michael Dukakis
  from Massachusetts
  (1975–1979;1983–1991)
• 
  Governor
  Bob Graham
  from Florida
  (1979–1987)
• 
  Governor
  Mark White
  from Texas
  (1983–1987)
• 
  Governor
  Martha Layne Collins
  from Kentucky
  (1983–1987)

Other Individuals[4][5][6]

• 
  Mayor of Philadelphia
  Wilson Goode
  from Pennsylvania
  (1984–1992)
• 
  Chairman of Chrysler
  Lee Iacocca
  (1979–1992)

See also

• Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1984

References

1. Mondale, Walter; Hage, Dave (18 November 2015). "'The Good Fight': Mondale picks Ferraro -- 'A nation is stronger when it can tap all its talents'". Minnesota Post. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
2. Weinraub, Bernard (13 June 1984). "MONDALE OUTLINES JOB QUALITIES IN RUNNING MATE". New York Times. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
3. Weinraub, Bernard (11 July 1984). "MONDALE TO NAME HIS RUNNING MATE IN ST. PAUL TODAY". New York Times. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
4. Raines, Howell (8 June 1984). "MONDALE TURNING ATTENTION TO HUNT FOR RUNNING MATE". New York Times. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
5. Goldstein, Joel (26 July 2012). "Yogi Berra and Veepstakes". University of Virginia Center for Politics. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
6. Sigelman, Lee; Wahlbeck, Paul (December 1997). "The "Veepstakes": Strategic Choice in Presidential Running Mate Selection". The American Political Science Review. 91 (4): 858. doi:10.2307/2952169. JSTOR 2952169.