On March 2, 2004, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry became the presumptive Democratic nominee for president in the 2004 Presidential Election. Kerry selected North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his running mate on July 6, 2004. The Kerry–Edwards ticket was ultimately defeated by the Bush–Cheney ticket in the general election. Edwards had already chose not to run for a second term, however, he returned to the Senate following the campaign but left politics less than two months later.
Selection process
The vice presidential selection process was led by James Johnson, former chief executive officer of Fannie Mae and Chairman of Walter Mondale's 1984 Presidential Campaign. Kerry, who had been considered by Al Gore in 2000 as a potential running mate, sought to ensure that the selection process was discreet. To evade reporters, Kerry interviewed Edwards at former Secretary of State Madeline Albright's home in Washington D.C. Alyssa Mastromonaco, who would later serve as White House Deputy Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama, organized Kerry's meetings with the candidates.
Reported shortlist
Pundits and those close to the Kerry campaign indicated that candidates narrowed to five potential choices.<gallery>
File:General Wesley Clark 2000.jpg||alt=Retired Army General and 2004 presidential candidateWesley Clarkfrom Arkansas
File:John Edwards, official Senate photo portrait (cropped 3x4 v2).jpg| |alt=Senator and 2004 presidential candidateJohn Edwardsfrom North Carolina(1999–2005)
File:Richard Gephardt (cropped).jpg||alt=Representative and 2004 presidential candidateDick Gephardtfrom Missouri(1977–2005)
File:BobGrahamCropped.jpg||alt=SenatorBob Grahamfrom Florida(1987–2005)
File:Tom Vilsack, official USDA portrait (cropped).jpg||alt=GovernorTom Vilsackfrom Iowa(1999–2007)
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Announcement
The night before the campaign's announcement of the selection of Edwards, the information was leaked by an airport worker who saw Edwards's name being painted on Kerry's plane. 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 at 9 a.m. EDT in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Media speculation on possible vice presidential candidates
Members of Congress
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File:SenatorBayh (cropped).jpg||alt=SenatorEvan Bayhfrom Indiana(1999–2011)
File:Joe Biden, official photo portrait 2-cropped.jpg|alt=|
File:Bill Bradley P01255-06 a.jpg|alt=|
File:Senator Max Cleland (cropped).jpg||alt=Former SenatorMax Clelandfrom Georgia(1997–2003)
File:Hillary Clinton 2004 (cropped).JPG||alt=SenatorHillary Clintonfrom New York(2001–2009)
File:James Clyburn, official Congressional Majority Whip photo.jpg||alt=Representative Jim Clyburnfrom South Carolina(1993–present)
File:Tom Daschle, official Senate photo.jpg|alt=|
File:Richard Durbin official photo (cropped).jpg||alt=SenatorDick Durbinfrom Illinois(1997–present)
File:Dianne Feinstein congressional portrait (cropped).jpg|alt=|
File:John Glenn Low Res.jpg|alt=|
File:Bio hamilton headshot.jpg||alt=Former RepresentativeLee H. Hamiltonfrom Indiana(1965–1999)
File:Ted Kennedy, official photo portrait crop (tight crop).jpg|alt=|
File:Senator Bob Kerrey (cropped).jpg|alt=|
File:Mary Landrieu official portrait (cropped).jpg||alt=SenatorMary Landrieufrom Louisiana(1997–2015)
File:John Lewis official portrait 2003 (cropped).jpg||alt=RepresentativeJohn Lewisfrom Georgia(1987–2020)
File:Joe Lieberman 2008.jpg||alt=Senator and 2004 presidential candidateJoe Liebermanfrom Connecticut(1989–2013)
File:Blanche Lincoln, 2007 (cropped).jpg||alt=SenatorBlanche Lincolnfrom Arkansas(1999–2011)
File:Senator John McCain official portrait 2006 (cropped).jpg|alt=|
File:Bill Nelson (cropped).jpg||alt=SenatorBill Nelsonfrom Florida(2001–2019)
File:NunnColorGlassesSmall.gif||alt=SenatorSam Nunnfrom Georgia(1972–1997)
File:Nancy Pelosi official portrait.jpg||alt=Representative and House Minority LeaderNancy Pelosifrom California(1987–present)
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Governors
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File:JanetNapolitanoIraq.jpg|
File:Bill richardson.jpg|
File:Ed Rendell ID2004 crop (cropped).JPG|
File:Jeanne Shaheen 2008 NH (cropped).jpg|
File:Governor Warner (127964484) (cropped2).jpg|
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Federal executive branch officials
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File:Robert Rubin headshot (cropped).jpg|
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Other individuals
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File:Anthony Zinni, official military photo portrait (cropped).jpg||alt=Former United States Special Envoy for Middle East PeaceAnthony Zinnifrom Virginia(2001–2003)
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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