[null and void]

if he doesn’t meet the criteria then the number two guy on the winning ticket becomes the President....

Not quite that simple.

	Before election	DNC decides, method not specified
		RNC fills vacancy, reconvene convention or RNC state representitves vote, simple majority wins
	Just before the election	Congress may pass special legislation to move back election day to give more time for the party to select a new candidate and regroup
11/4	Election
	After election, but before Electoral College	No federal law. Electors open to vote for VP, third party, or convention runner up. State laws may affect elector's abilities to select.
12/15	Electoral College
	After Electoral College, before Congress counts the votes	Congress counts Electoral College votes and declares winner. Winner's VP gets it
		Or, Congress throws out votes. If a surviving candidate can be said to have a majority of votes, they get it.
		Or, Congress throws out votes. 12th Amendment, House of represetitives selects from top three candidates with the most votes. (surviving Democrat or Republican and two third party candidates?)
		20th Amendment, VP gets it, but only applies after candidate becomes 'Prsident-Elect" That could be after Electoral College.
1/6	Congressional Vote Count
	After Congressional count but before inauguration	20th Amendment, VP gets it, but only applies after candidate becomes 'Prsident-Elect" That is certainly after Congressional count.
1/20	Inauguration	VP gets it

 

[bvw]

Thanks for that timeline.