It's Apparently Possible to Pick a VP by Accident

Accidentally picking a running mate isn't a great look for a candidate already struggling to be taken seriously, but that's exactly what's happened to presidential hopeful Evan McMullin, Politico reports. Since launching his campaign last month, the conservative independent has qualified for the ballot in nine states. Unfortunately, his vice president on those ballots is listed as "Nathan Johnson." And nobody seems quite sure who that is. "I don't personally know the guy," McMullin's senior adviser says. "He's somebody that they vetted as a placeholder. That's all it is."

Placeholder or no, it's too late in eight of the nine states to remove Johnson's name and replace it with whoever McMullin actually chooses as a running mate. And he only has until Friday to swap out Johnson in the ninth state, Colorado. Fortunately, if hell freezes over and McMullin somehow wins the presidency, experts say he can always swear in whatever vice president he settles on—which has to be disheartening news for the thousands of Nathan Johnsons out there. (More Evan McMullin stories.)