An after thought..can a nominee select a vp before they are nominated?
Yes, there is precedent. A selection of Dick Schweiker (R-PA, liberal), by Ronald Reagan in 1976 occurred before the rollcall of the states. Of course, Reagan, by the Convention rules could have his own name put into nomination. Fast forward 36 years later, as of tonight, only Santorum and Romney can even get their name into nomination at Tampa. Furthermore, there have been de-facto cases of the VP choice already made by the person before his official nomination, such as Nixon in support of Spiro Agnew for another term as Vice President despite not yet officially being nominated yet by the convention (he had some challenge by John Ashbrook). In 1976, there was a rule vote, which failed (to the benefit of the Ford Camp) to force him to name his own Vice Presidential candidate before the actually nomination roll call. Once that failed, it was clear the convention would nominate Ford, not Reagan—that Reagan did not have the numbers to prevail.