James Soong toyed with the media and public last week, continually telling them he was on the brink of announcing his running mate.
Each day brought a new potential partner, ranging from Wu Tun-yi (
Finally he selected Chang Chao-hsiung (
But a new question has arisen just as the mystery of Soong's running mate has been solved: is Chang someone who can be called upon to act as the nation's leader?
The Constitution clearly stipulates that the vice-president must assume the position of the president if the president dies or is unable to carry out the duties of his office.
This is a serious responsibility, calling for a person who is able to handle the demanding task of acting as head of a nation.
Chang's background is in medicine, and he has no political experience.
He has himself said: "This is the first time I have stepped into the political arena."
Chang is, politely speaking, a tabula rasa, but if you wanted to be critical you might call him a political idiot (
The US originally established the position of vice-president to ensure that someone could handle the affairs of the head of state when the president was absent.
The vice-president was not meant to be a presidential successor.
Yet nine vice-presidents have assumed the position of president in the US as a result of illness, assassination or impeachment. At that point, the vice-president -- who usually plays a behind-the-scenes role -- must take center political stage and act as a stabilizing force.
After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, shocking the US, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson was quickly sworn in on an airplane, maintaining continuity within the administration and the presidency.
This proved the importance of the vice-presidency, a post also held by US presidents such as Jefferson, Roosevelt and Truman.
Of course, there have also been instances where presidents have chosen the wrong vice-president.
Former US President George Bush selected Dan Quayle as his running mate in the 1988 presidential elections and the media had a field day ridiculing Quayle's background, interests, appearance and abilities.
Quayle was a poor public speaker and often made inappropriate remarks, providing ample ammunition for a trigger-happy media.
US voters lacked confidence in this mediocre, timid vice-president.
More importantly, the Republican Party lacked confidence as well, eventually spawning a movement to "dump Quayle" to protect Bush's reputation.
When Bush experienced heart problems after jogging one day, there was a national panic that Quayle might take the nation's helm.
Succinctly put, US history shows that the selection of a vice-president is linked to the fate of the nation.
Vice-presidential selection is no joke.
A vice-presidential candidate like Chang cannot be compared to a Johnson or a Jefferson.
Moreover, Chang's lack of self-confidence when speaking in public bears more than a little resemblance to Quayle.
Soong's choice of a running mate, and his over-the-hill campaign team, show there is little left up his sleeve.
Bair Tyzz-yu is a researcher at the Institute for National Development.
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