Voters likely will go to the polls this year with the knowledge they may well be electing the next two United States presidents. Given public concerns about the leading candidates’ issues of age, health and conduct, focus will be on the respective vice-presidential running mates. Either one conceivably could be called upon to serve a full or partial term in the top spot prior to 2028 (or even this November) – due to possibilities of incapacitation, incarceration or interment. This extraordinary uncertainty casts the 2024 election in a new light. The choice of filling the ticket takes on unusual significance because the second-place role may prove more demanding sooner than historically has been the case. That spot calls for candidates of demonstrated accomplishment and public recognition who can be more than an accessory figure. He or she could well be auditioning for prime-time exposure earlier than usual. The public therefore should pay inordinately close attention to the leadership attributes, policy positions, personality traits and pertinent backgrounds of the running mates. Envision them in the top position from the outset and watch carefully how they present themselves to the voting public. This is a year for serious concentration on the qualifications and attributes of four candidates, not just two. Phil Osifer