Article II, Section 1, Clause 5:
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
Correct, the Constitution does not mention “running for president” in the discussion of who is eligible. It indicates “eligibility” for being President.
But elsewhere, the Constitution discusses presidential electors, which touches on the election of a president through the actions of the electors.
Yes, there is a “presidential election” in December with 535 voters - but that’s not what most people mean when they talk about “running for President”.
The question still remains: On whom does the NBC clause act? Does it prohibit a State Legislature from appointing an Elector who says he will vote for an ineligible person? Does it prohibit Congress from counting that vote?
Or does it prohibit a judge from administering the oath of office to an ineligible person?
Interesting stuff.