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Not if he wanted to win the general election. As far as the constitutionality of it...I'm not sure. Someone after me will address that. But from the practical standpoint, it would be suicide.

Yes he could, in theory, but the party wouldn't let him because that person would become president if anything happened to McCain.

In our Constitution, originally, there was no election for vice president. The VP was the candidate for president who got the second highest number of votes. Our founding fathers didn't want political parties to develop (they called them 'factions'). But when parties did develop, the problem was that the president and VP were always of different parties, so the Constitution had to be changed to allow them to be elected separately, for presidential and vice-presidental candidates to run as a team.

Also, we always talk as if it's the presidential candidate who picks his 'running mate', but in fact it's the party leaders who decide, based on a number of political factors. Usually it's someone you never heard of, who doesn't have a lot of political past to hurt his chances or a lot of people around the country that hate his guts. The Republicans would NEVER pick Hillary Clinton, for instance, or Nancy Pelosi. Or, in their own party, someone as controversial as Newt Gingrich or Trent Lott.

Technically yes...although the NRCC/DCCC, and the party rank-and-file, would probably have an issue with this...that is, unless someone like Lieberman were to actually switch party affiliations.

I can only think of one time this has happened (at least back to when the candidates were elected jointly), and that is was when Abe Lincoln (Republican) chose Andrew Johnson (Democrat) for the Vice-Presidency.

Yes, but I do not think it will be done.

Because if something happen to the President, the Vice President is next and line.

That is why Barack Obama will not select a Republican as Vice President. He will pick someone from his party that best represents his views.

It can happen. America is a free country. McCain was almost Kerry's running mate in 2004.

Absolutely, though it is requested that they enroll in the Party before they campaign...they do need to attend the party caucuses also.

Yes, but it would be a hard sell in today's world. Abraham Lincoln (Republican) did it with Andrew Johnson (Democrat) in 1864, though.

Not in the modern world where there is vast differences in the parties.

yes. it will probably never happen. but he could