It's Apparently Possible to Pick a VP by Accident

Best of luck to Evan McMullin and running mate 'Nathan Johnson,' whoever he is
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 7, 2016 3:27 PM CDT
Presidential Long Shot Picks Running Mate on Accident
Evan McMullin, who's running for president as an independent against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, accidentally picked someone named Nathan Johnson as his running mate.   (Weston Kenney/The Deseret News via AP, File)

Accidentally picking a running mate isn't a great look for a candidate already struggling to be taken seriously, but that's exactly what's happened to presidential hopeful Evan McMullin, Politico reports. Since launching his campaign last month, the conservative independent has qualified for the ballot in nine states. Unfortunately, his vice president on those ballots is listed as "Nathan Johnson." And nobody seems quite sure who that is. "I don't personally know the guy," McMullin's senior adviser says. "He's somebody that they vetted as a placeholder. That's all it is."

Placeholder or no, it's too late in eight of the nine states to remove Johnson's name and replace it with whoever McMullin actually chooses as a running mate. And he only has until Friday to swap out Johnson in the ninth state, Colorado. Fortunately, if hell freezes over and McMullin somehow wins the presidency, experts say he can always swear in whatever vice president he settles on—which has to be disheartening news for the thousands of Nathan Johnsons out there. (More Evan McMullin stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X