Very little in public terms, although they are usually in constant communication with their campaign staffs by means of mobile units, telephones and advanced electronic gadgetry. They do not appear on the convention floor until after the nomination, when they arrive, accompanied by their spouses and children, waving and smiling while delegates cheer, and television and news cameras record the scene. On the final day, the convention turns to the selection of the vice president, although this is largely a formality. The presidential nominee has already made his choice known and the delegates are expected to honor it. The convention does, however, go through the motions of nominations, speeches and balloting.
Many factors go into the selection of the vice president.
The chief one is the need to unite all factions of the. party. Southerner Jimmy Carter reversed the process in 1976 by choosing northern liberal Water Mondale as his vice presidential candidate. The convention closes with acceptance speeches by the vice presidential and presidential candidates, followed by the appearance of all the unsuccessful candidates and party leaders on the podium in a show of unity. This means that the convention is officially adjourned, until the next one takes place in four years. The delegates return to their homes, and the final stage of the campaign gets under way.