John, I don't believe it worked out as you imagine. What would be the incentive to run to the center? One runs to win a majority wherever one can, and to represent one's beliefs (assuming one has some). In fact, after Washington, John Adams ran first and became president, while Thomas Jefferson ran second and became vice president. Adams and Jefferson were bitter political enemies. Adams was essentially the first Federalist, Jefferson the first Democratic Republican. Having Jefferson as Adams' vice president was not the best situation. If Adams' political enemies had succeeded in impeaching (and convicting) him -- or if any single Jefferson supporter had taken it upon himself to assassinate Adams -- they would have gotten someone they preferred as president. That's not a good incentive structure for stable government.