Other Factors
Sometimes candidates will try to appeal to a particular demographic group or will try to make up for a perceived weakness by choosing a particular running mate.
Barack Obama's selection of Joe Biden as his Vice President is often considered a way to augment a lack of foreign policy experience (Obama) with the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Biden).
Walter Mondale's selection of Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 was widely seen as an appeal to female voters.
Older presidential candidates will sometimes chose younger, more vigorous candidates as their running mates. Mainly to garner younger voters who often see older candidates as "uncool" or "out of touch". George H. W. Bush was in his mid 60s when he chose the young and photogenic Dan Quayle in 1988. Bob Dole, who was in his 70s, chose former professional athlete Jack Kemp in 1996. In 2008, John McCain was 72 when he chose 44-year-old Sarah Palin to run for Vice President.
George W. Bush was considered a political novice and outsider when he chose Dick Cheney, a consummate Washington insider, as his running mate in 2000.
Read more about this topic: Ticket Balance
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