What happens if a presidential candidate dies or has to leave the race?

CNN via MSN ^ | February 12, 2024 | Zachary B. Wolf and Ethan Cohen

[packagingguy]

If the leading candidate was to drop out of the campaign after most primaries or even during the convention, individual delegates would likely decide the party’s nominee on the convention floor.

That would shine a spotlight on the normally niche question of who those actual delegates are.

There would be a messy political battle in every state over who would get to be a delegate (if the vacancy happened before many of those people were chosen) and then who they would ultimately support. Even people who did not run primary campaigns could ultimately be considered.

You can assume, for instance, that Vice President Kamala Harris would be a top contender to be on the ballot if, for some reason, Biden left the race. At the same time, given Haley’s weakness in primaries, it seems unlikely that Republicans would coalesce around her if Trump was unable to run.

On the Democratic side, there would also be another group to consider: the “superdelegates,” a group of about 700 senior party leaders and elected officials who are automatically delegates to the convention based on their position. Under normal party rules, they can’t vote on the first ballot if they could swing the nomination, but they’re free to vote on subsequent ballots.

[Red Badger]

[null and void]

It’s not like he isn’t already running the White Hospice from Beijing, may as well make it official...

[Red Badger]

And Thomas Eagleton in 1972...............

[Political Junkie Too]

If the candidate dies after being formally nominated at the convention, the party leaders get to name the replacement without further consensus from the rank and file.

-PJ

[Nervous Tick]

>> The fact that he refuses to leave will force the Uniparty to ease him into the next world.

“They” are gonna have to take out Mistress Jill the Educatrix too. She will never willingly give up the presidency. 😉

[ProtectOurFreedom]

” if, for some reason, Biden left the race”

I cannot imagine that happening. He’s young, healthy, robust, vital and runs rings around everybody. Strongest, healthiest, smartest and sharpest candidate in decades.

[bigbob]

They think it’s like turning a battleship to convince the public that the Biden story they’ve been pushing is malarkey so they’re starting slowly to prepare democrats for the inevitable.

[DPMD]

Or else they’re engaging in assassination porn.

If the candidate is a dem, he still wins the vote and the spouse takes the spot.

If a republican, a dem takes over.

[Tench_Coxe]

Prepping for the Torricelli Manuever re: Biden.

"Never mind who you voted for plebes, we'll pick who we want as our figurehead to rule over you."

[Dr. Sivana]

What they really want is to take out both Trump and Biden. Harris, too. Just like the Dems nailed Agnew before Nixon. Agnew would have been better.

[BradyLS]

Most folks are thinking Biden. I don’t put it past the Swamp Creatures that they’re thinking Trump.

[ChronicMA]

Just nominate the person who is already running the country.

Doctor (very important to include this honorific) Jill Biden

[wildcard_redneck]

If Biden sheds his mortal coil then “Dr. Jill” will be on the street or perhaps they will have her run like an American Evita Peron.

[Buttons12]

What happens? Well, it makes headlines. CNN writes them and hopes people will pay attention to CNN.

[C210N]

Sorry, I was thinking of somebody even more elusive than Newsom.

[packagingguy]

Sounds like Big Mike!!

[DannyTN]

Democrat's top choices include:

• Olsteen church transgendered shooter
• Jean Carroll who successfully defeated Trump in a kangaroo court.
• Taylor Swift who won the Superbowl.
• Any of several Hamas leaders, living or dead
• Any of several Iranian generals, living or dead
• Xi Jinping
• the Dallas zoo monkey thief, he's certified as incompetent so he has that going for him,
• Samali first Omar
• AOC, a horse is a horse unless of course..

[Sacajaweau]

Suppose the candidate passed on November 1st

[NorthMountain]

I recognize the queer on the left ...

The other one, though ...

What.

Is.

That?

[airedale]

If it’s after the convention I understand its tin the case of the DNC it’s the DNC leadership that picks all by itself.