Here's why it would be tough for Democrats to replace Joe Biden on the presidential ticket

Channel 3000 News/AP ^ | June 28, 2024 | AP Staff

[Diana in Wisconsin]

President Joe Biden's halting debate performance has led some in his own party to begin questioning whether he should be replaced on the ballot before November.

There is no evidence Biden is willing to end his campaign. And it would be nearly impossible for Democrats to replace him unless he chooses to step aside.

Here's why:

Delegates Biden won in the primaries are obligated to support him

*SNIP*

VP Kamala Harris couldn't automatically replace Biden

*SNIP*

Other potential Democratic candidates would also face challenges

In addition to the vice president, others that had endorsed Biden in 2024 while harboring their own presidential aspirations for future cycles include California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker and California Rep. Ro Khanna.

Still others who Biden bested during the party’s 2020 presidential primary could also try again, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, as well as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

If Biden were to abruptly leave the race, conservative groups have suggested they will file lawsuits around the country, potentially questioning the legality of the Democratic candidate's name on the ballot.

But Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington, who wrote a book about the presidential nominating process and is also a member of the Democratic National Committee’s rulemaking arm, said that courts have consistently stayed out of political primaries as long as parties running them weren’t doing anything that would contradict other constitutional rights, such as voter suppression based on race.

“This is very clear constitutionally that this is in the party’s purview,” Kamarck said in an interview before the debate. “The business of nominating someone to represent a political party is the business of the political party.”

[Jeff Chandler]

Wait, are you talking about “the law”? There were state laws concerning ballots and voting back in 2020. How did those laws stop the rats?

[cgbg]

“Cannot”

If Biden is still alive.

The Deep State plays dirty.

[Dr. Franklin]

Biden is very obstinate and bitter and egotistical, among other things. Jill keeps him under her thumb and it will not be easy for them to get him to step aside.

Nurse Jill is a prima donna who doesn't want to leave the White House. Heels Up Harris will resent if she is passed over by anyone pushing Biden out. The Rats will have some angry women if they try to change things now.

[laplata]

That’s right. They’re in a bind.

[LS]

I am talking about “the laws.” In 3000 counties and 50 states.

Stop thinking of these people as demigods or superhuman.

They have proven this time around they got lucky last time, and that they are STUPID.

[supremedoctrine]

In this connection, it’s been proposed by some financial analyst I just heard yesterday,that Biden could pull the incredibly transparent move of picking Gavin Newsom as his running mate. It would be clear to all Dem voters that they’d be voting for Newsom, without his actually having to run-—then, in the first few weeks, we’ve got Biden losing all ability to govern, and Newsom has to take over. This is their fantasy (that any Dem ticket would win in the first place) but don’t put it past them to try it.) At least a Newsom VP-President would make it easier to steal the election...yes they would be so bold as to say to your face that Newsom is just that popular.