In the 2000 U.S. presidential contest, Al Gore was advised by his strategists to wait for George W. bush to announce his vice-president running mate before making his own decision on a running mate. Under what circumstances would Gore be better off giving Bush a head start on putting together his presidential ticket? What kind of strategic sitting is this?

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The strategic decision of waiting for George W. Bush to announce his vice-presidential running mate before making his own decision is known as "strategic sitting." This tactic can be used in certain circumstances to gain a competitive advantage.

In the case of the 2000 U.S. presidential contest, there are a couple of possible scenarios where Gore's team might have determined that he would be better off giving Bush a head start on putting together his presidential ticket:

1. Testing the political landscape: By waiting for Bush to announce his running mate first, Gore's strategists could assess the public response and gauge the strengths and weaknesses of Bush's choice. This would provide valuable information for Gore's team to strategically select a running mate whose attributes and policy positions would complement or potentially counterbalance Bush's ticket.

2. Mitigating negative comparisons: If the media and public were heavily focused on Bush's vice-presidential pick, Gore's strategists might have concluded that it would be disadvantageous to announce their own running mate at the same time. By waiting, they could potentially lessen the direct comparison between the two tickets and shift the focus back onto Gore's agenda and qualifications.

Strategic sitting essentially allows a candidate to observe their opponent's move and adjust their strategy accordingly. By strategically timing their actions, candidates can potentially gain a better understanding of the political landscape and adapt their campaign to maximize their chances of success.