The veep: who should get the job?(Election 2004)

The vice president is an important job. If something happens and the president cannot complete his or her term of office, the vice president becomes president. The vice president also serves as president of the Senate and can break tie votes in the Senate. The vice president can represent the president and our country in trips abroad. The vice presidential candidate is chosen by the candidate running for president. In this race, Vice President Dick Cheney is again the running mate of President George W. Bush. Senator John Kerry chose Senator John Edwards, who had earlier run for the Democratic nomination, as his running mate.

For more facts on the job and vice presidential history, check out www.vicepresidents.com.

MEET JOHN EDWARDS

Senator John Edwards was selected by Senator John Kerry to be his running mate.

* Growing-up years: He was born in Seneca, South Carolina, on June 10, 1953, and raised in Robbins, North Carolina, a small town. He went to North Carolina State University, graduating in 1974. He then went on to law school at the University of North Carolina, graduating in 1977. While in law school, he met and married his wife, Elizabeth.

* After college: He worked as a lawyer in North Carolina and ran for the senate in 1998. He was elected and has served as a senator since then. He and Elizabeth have had four children. Their first child, Wade, died in 1996 in a car accident. Their oldest daughter, Catharine, recently graduated from college and is helping her father in the campaign. They also have two younger children, Emma Claire, 6, and Jack, 4.

MEET RICHARD CHENEY