It is fair to consider the possibility that, if elected, John McCain might die in office and Sarah Palin might become president.

I'll go one step further and suggest that, "It is reasonable to assume that if elected, John McCain *will* die in office and Sarah Palin will become president."

In fact, I think it is necessary to consider that either presidential candidate might die in office and to analyze both VP choices.

I am worried for the next President. I do think that whoever is elected, there is an increased risk of a death in office. In McCain's case, because of poor health. In Obama's case, I fear assassination from some racist whackjob. However, I am sure the secret service will know that that is a serious risk, and all Presidents face the danger of assassination, so I hope they will be very good at protecting him.

But I certainly think it's justifiable to look into the VP choices. Also, the VP choice is the first big decision toward Presidential matters that a candidate makes, so it ought to be investigated for how well it will serve the nation and how well the candidate can potentially be President should something happen, which is the main role of a Vice President.

Yes, I agree that this applies to Obama/Biden just as much as McCain/Palin. However, Biden is well-known and people should have a pretty good idea what he would do as president. In the case that the president (whoever that may be) dies, it's important that the vice president isn't going to make an unstable situation worse.

As for Palin, I think it's disturbing that, as far as I can see, the only time she's going to have to give unscripted responses in public to a hostile questioner is the vice presidential debate against Biden. That's not a lot of scrutiny for someone who could be president.

Assassination is always a possibility regardless of who is elected, but I don't think it's constructive to worry about it, outside of considering if the president has chosen a good running mate.

Actually, last I had heard, they were dumbing down the format of the VP debate to make it easier for Palin, because they are just that cowardly.

I do agree that we have enough info on Biden. Personally, I have enough info on Palin to know that I don't want her. But there are still several issues where I would like to know her position and can find ~nothing~. That's a problem for me.

I do agree we shouldn't overly worry about a death in office. As regular people (I'm assuming you don't work in the White House with their security people; I certainly don't) we just hope that those who are responsible will do a good job of protecting our leaders.

But I do think that investigating the candidates for both President and Vice President is important. And all 4 should be evaluated based on how you think they would do at being President if they got the job the day Bush leaves office.

his doctor has stated there is a 1/3 chance he will die of natural causes within 4 years.

Most recent reports suggest that the McCain campaign is not satisfied with dumbing down the VP debates, and is trying to do away with them altogether.

True... however, I personally like the following suggestion I read that if McCain feels he needs to focus on the economy and thus not run his campaign or do the debates, then Palin should step into the role of President-to-be for the purpose of his campaign and should replace him in the first debate so that he can be busy in Congress while the person he feels is fully competent to be President can take over his role in the Presidential debate.

I'd pay to watch that, Rachel. That's entertainment. Where do I get tickets?

That is an excellent suggestion.