One of TFG's prime superpowers is claiming the media limelight, and all that's been going on with the Democratic ticket since 27 June has robbed him of that. Hell, a week ago he came within an inch of being permanently removed from any future, let alone a political one ... and that's scarcely being discussed. I'm not convinced that "no news is bad news", and that all attention is good, but ... at least in terms of attention, the Dems have been winning this battle for the past several weeks.

The other thought is that the general election all but certainly swings not on converting voters but motivating them. Or demotivating.

I've been thinking of a Harris-Whitmer ticket, which would play to Dem strengths among Blacks, women, blue-collar/industrial voters, and one of the key swing states (Michigan (15 EV)).

Other states in play are Nevada (6), Wisconsin (10), Pennsylvania (19), and Georgia (16).

MI, WI, and PA currently lean Dem, which would give an electoral majority, taking NV and Georgia (very slightly GOP) would ice that cake.

An argument against a split ticket is that there might be a greater chance of strongly motivating marginal Democratic voters. The argument for a split ticket might be to take dissatisfied Republicans (or former Republicans), though how much any of the candidates listed above might draw is questionable. Romney is strongly associated with Utah, which will all but certainly go GOP (99% by 538's forecast), Cheney with Wyoming, similarly inclined, and with a small population (and electoral vote) to boot. Whether either can draw GOP votes from elsewhere, and most especially in critical states such as those listed, or perhaps AZ (surprisingly close), NC, FL, or TX (rather more distant likelihoods, but potentially huge if doable) is the question.

It'll be interesting watching this play out, no doubt.

The more I think about it, the less I think a split ticket works, though I think it's worth considering in future.