How would Biden be able to just jump in now. Wouldn’t he still have to win enough states to get the nomination?
I assume (but haven’t been able to verify) that the delegates are only pledged for the first round of voting at the convention.
So if no one goes into the convention with a majority, the first vote gives no one the nomination.
Then it’s open to vote for anyone.
Also, the Democrats have about 15% of the total delegates who are unelected “superdelegates.” They can vote for whomever they want on the first vote as well.
“Wouldn’t [Biden] still have to win enough states to get the nomination?”
I saw this question elsewhere and I don’t know the answer. It may be too late for him to get on the ballot for primaries, but I’m pretty sure he could still be nominated at the convention and run in the general election.
Don’t forget, when you vote for the president you don’t really vote for George Bush or Al Gore you vote for “the electors for GB or AG”, so I don’t think it’s even a question of a person actually getting on the ballot for president.
But maybe someone else can fill us in more.