Kerry Splits - Is it then Edwards, or .....?

self | 7/8/04 | self

[beyond the sea]

Just wondering. What is the actual answer to this?

If Kerry pulled out of the Presidential campaign for some reason before the election, but after being officially nominated at the Convention, would John Edwards (the political equivalent of breat implants) necessarily and consequently be the Democrat presidential candidate. Just wondering.

[beyond the sea]

Who knows? I don't. Could Hillary step in somewhere under this scenario?

[beyond the sea]

ping

[Izzy Dunne]

I don't think there's any precedent.

It wouldn't be right for ANYONE else to step in - after all, a vast majority of voters voted AGAINST Edwards.

No one knows, I bet.

[mewzilla]

No one knows, I bet.

Let's just hope we don't have to find out. Sigh...

[stevem]

There is a rumor about that there is a secret service guy on the Kerry detail that is responsible for making sure there are no mirrors about when Kerry starts practicing his speeches. It seems otherwise Kerry's life is in danger because there is the very real possibility that he will bore himself to death.

[beyond the sea]

ping

[beyond the sea]

No one knows, I bet.

The person pinged very early on this thread THINKS he/she knows. ;)

[beyond the sea]

LOL!

[beyond the sea]

LOL! Take that strange hairstyle off his head, and he's not that good looking, by the way. Who is good at doing that with their computer? Make him bald.... like me!

John Edwards: The political equivalent of breast implants. (I wonder if Edwards ever sued over a poorly done job in that arena.)

[Conservative Kay]

I think a switch could happen. The Dems have made me paranoid. I think anyone that would vote against Hillary should register just in case. There being no precedent or it not being right seems to have nothing to do with the Dems. Remember the Toricelli switch. A switch after registration time has ended could be a disaster.

[Diogenesis]

The New Jersey precedent is that if the Democrats poll low
before election day, or if a positive pathology report finally appears (or rising PSA) for Kerry,
then the ticket is either Hillary - Edwards OR Edwards - Hillary.

After Fosterization, it would be the same thing.

[tomder55]

No one has sufficuent delegates to get the majority on the first ballot if Kerry drops out like the Old Man of the Mountain. It would then be an open convention that I have my suspicions Hillary would control .

[familyofman]

Getting into full conspiracy mode early in the day (before 2nd cup of coffee) - it would open the door for Hillary to finally reach the goal she wants so badly. Who else could fill the 'void' left?

[muskah]

It is my understanding that at the end of the convention they vote to authorize the DNC to fill any vacancy that occurs after the convention. There is a precedent with the McGovern/Eagleton ticket in 1972, though not at the top of the ticket.

[Brandon]

The Democratic National Committee fills vacancies on the presidential ticket:

http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/charter.pdf

[carton253]

Personally, if Hillary thought she had a chance in 2004, she would have run. If she thought that Kerry really has a chance in 2004, she would have run.

She isn't a part of the national ticket because internal democractic polling has revealed what the press (with their myriads of polls are desperately trying to hide) that this election belongs to George W. Bush.

[TommyDale]

To my knowlege, there is no rule established in such a case. It would be up to the Democratic Party leadership, as it was in 1968 when Hubert H. Humphrey was selected after Robert F. Kennedy was killed. As I recall, Humphrey never ran in a single primary (or if he did he didn't win any).

It would revert back to the days of the "smoke filled rooms" with the mob, the unions and the leadership like McAulliffe, the Clintons, Tom Daschle, etc. swaying the delegates.

[Brandon]

Yes, there is a rule: The DNC fills vacancies.

Humphrey was not selected by the DNC, though; there was no vacancy, since he was killed before the Convention. Humphrey was selected by the Convention delegates. I assume RFK's delegates were released from their obligations, but I don't remember; it's been a long time.

[OldEagle]

"Personally, if Hillary thought she had a chance in 2004, she would have run. "

She has sworn too many times that she would finish her term as senator, but to save the party and the nation, she can be expected to accept a draft. Of course this could only happen if Kerry and/or Edwards self-destructs or if Kerry's prostate flares up or whatever.