Posted on 02/04/2008 4:25:14 PM PST by LS
Since Freepers know the answers to just about everything:
What happens in modern times (as I know what used to happen, pre-Civil War) if a party's clear nominee---after the convention---has to drop out due to health, whatever?
New primaries are not possible: do the party leaders pick someone new, or does the veep candidate automatically ascend to the top spot?
If Obama wins on Tuesday, that’ll be a great question for Democrats.
You’re not really voting for a candidate in a Primary, you’re voting for party delegates who pledge to vote for your candidate.
If the candidate withdraws from the race prior to the convention, his/her delegates are released to vote as they please.
So basically you’re asking what happens if our nominee loses his mind and goes postal on the campaign trail?
Good question. I’d assume the VP if it’s an R. I’d assume a horde of lawyers if it’s a D. They could hold another nomination process but that would leave future potential appeals with a precedent.
My understanding is that the party’s central committee would meet to choose a replacement. This is similar to what occurs in some states after a House member dies and there is no special primary election, only a special general election.
The bigger issue would be ballot access deadlines, and whether they would be changed. Even if the ballot were not changed, the electoral college could still vote for the designated replacement.
You will be the first person the Secret Service will question...
Hilarious! There is no way he has enough people watching his back to protect him from the Clintons.
I’ve asked this before too. That or then Dems drag up something really bad. Can the party replace the nominee?
Who’s sick now?
If McCain is the Republican nominee, I’m afraid we’ll find out.
I still wish we had some debates involving the candidates from both sides prior to getting stuck with a nominee. With all the emphasis on “electability” it really sucks to get stuck with someone who isn’t.
That’s a very clever (stealthy) answer to LS’s question.
“My my what a long nose you have. The more to eat you my dear.” The road to grandma’s house is getting dangerous.
I do not recall any previous situation as such. Any alteration to the platform/candidates after (or before either) the convention is not a constitutional matter (no provisions for partys) and almost no legal matter unless the process is viewed under contract law (consider how “unlegal” the selection process is and therein lies the rub) and that would put the matter into Major Grey zone.
In the past (prior to ~1825) the candidates were chosen by internal secret process (albeit with some public dogNpony show) so that is no guideline. In any case, it would be a very extreme cockup.
That would be a good idea. I was jusr reading the “you are whining, no you are whining” thread. They are playing T Ball. The Dems are major league.... I would like to see how they handle them.
You remember that Duncan Hunter sent an invite to Hillary to send more sneak attackers.
No, I understand that. What if AFTER the convention, something happens to the candidate?
LOL.
Good question. When Tom Eagleton dropped out as McGovern’s VP, the choice of Sargent Shriver was approved by the DNC.
I have looked in vain for standing rules of the Democrat or Republican party and have not found any.
(I wondered about it when someone suggested that the 2004 Democrat convention adjourn without nominating anyone — I forget why — maybe it was so that spending limits for John Kerry wouldn’t kick in until a certain date...anyway, I thought that a delegate could raise an objection to adjournment, saying that the convention hadn’t finished its business.)
In the election of 1872, Presidential candidate Horace Greeley died Nov 29, 1872.
Thomas Hendricks received 42 of his electoral votes,
VP Candidate Benjamin Gratz Brown received 18,
Greeley received 3 votes not counted, and
3 votes were scattered.
In the VP count,
Brown received 47 votes, and the remaining 19 votes were scattered.
I’m not quite sure how Hendricks got to be the unofficial Democratic nominee.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.