Democrats were concerned enough to start asking fresh questions about Joe Biden's potential withdrawal from the presidential contest after his erratic performance in the debate.
Given that Biden is already the Democrats' likely nominee and the clear favorite of primary voters, it would not be an easy procedure. It is improbable that he would be compelled to withdraw from the contest against his will because he encountered minimal opposition throughout the primary season and secured almost all of the party's delegates.
"The 1960s are not this. The nominee is chosen by the electorate. Democratic strategist and CNN commentator David Axelrod responded to Joe Biden's performance during the CNN debate on Thursday night by saying, "He is the nominee."
Democrats were unhappy when Vice President Hubert Humphrey was chosen as their nominee in 1968, which is exactly how the present primary system, which gives primary voters the upper hand over party elites, came about. Humphrey continued President Lyndon Johnson's Vietnam policy at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, even after Johnson withdrew from the campaign that year, realizing his declining popularity and opposition to the war in Vietnam. As Humphrey received the nomination, demonstrators and police battled, resulting in violence.
Even though the Democratic convention will be held in Chicago again in August, if Biden were to withdraw from the campaign, things would be drastically different in 2024.
As we initially stated in February, individual delegates would have to choose the party's nominee on the convention floor (or, maybe, during a virtual roll call) if the front-runner decided to withdraw from the race after the majority of primaries or even at the convention.
That would draw attention to the typically specialized subject of who those real delegates are. The Democratic Party gave states till June 22 to choose from among the more than 3,900 delegates that will be distributed as part of the primary process; nearly all of them are presently committed to Biden.
“Not only have these delegates promised to support Biden, but his team has also given them approval. Therefore, even while the majority of convention delegates may choose to select a different nominee, this would necessitate a significant number of the president's own supporters defecting. It also implies that supporters of Biden would have a major say in selecting his successor should he withdraw from the campaign."
Who may take Biden's place?
For example, it is reasonable to anticipate that Vice President Kamala Harris would be a strong candidate to be on the ballot in such a situation. However, there are other possible contenders who have said they might defeat former President Donald Trump with more success.
Would someone like California Governor Gavin Newsom, who backed Biden without reservation during Thursday's debate, take on Harris at the convention? Choosing a replacement might be unpleasant and contentious. After intense persuasion, the delegates would have to cast a number of ballots to choose who to choose.
The "superdelegates," a group of over 700 senior party leaders and elected officials who are automatically delegates to the convention based on their status, are another group to take into account on the Democratic side. If they could swing the nomination, they would be free to vote on subsequent ballots but would not be able to do so on the first ballot under regular party rules.
After the convention, what if a contender dropped out of the race?
A candidate would have to experience a dramatic occurrence in order to withdraw from the campaign in the short period of time between a party's summer nominating convention and its November general election.
Republicans and Democrats handle this possibility in significantly different ways. Though it's not a given, you may assume that the running mate would eventually volunteer to be on the ballot for the main election.
Democrats: In accordance with party rules, the Democratic National Committee may choose a candidate to the national ticket following the convention, subject to consultation with Democratic governors and congressional leadership by the party chair.
Republicans: In the event of a vacancy on the Republican side, the nominee for the position may be chosen by the Republican National Committee or the national convention may be called back.
Would the nominated be the running mate by default?
The 25th Amendment would raise the vice president to the presidency in the event that the incumbent president becomes disabled after obtaining the party's nomination, although party rules would determine who advances to become the party's nominee. This is according to a detailed Congressional Research Service report.
Although it might seem most plausible, neither party, according to the CRS, demands that the presidential candidate's running mate be moved up the ticket.
Has there ever been a contender who dropped out after the convention?
According to the CRS, Sen. Thomas Eagleton, a Democrat who was seeking the vice presidential nomination in 1972, was compelled to withdraw following the convention when it became apparent that he was receiving mental health treatment. It was a totally different era in 1972! Thankfully, the stigma around mental health is somewhat lessened these days.)
In order to confirm Sargent Shriver as the Democratic contender George McGovern's second-choice running mate, the DNC really had to call a meeting.
What would happen if the newly elected president suddenly became incapable?
The timing of a presidential assassination is crucial once more.
According to the Constitution, votes for the president are actually cast by electors gathered in state capitals. They are free to select, however in certain states they have to cast their votes for the state's election winner.
Although the statute itself is unclear, the CRS paper, which references many congressional hearings on the matter, indicates that it would make obvious sense for a vice president-elect to simply take over the duties of the president-elect.
The vice president-elect, who is the running mate of the deceased president, becomes the presidency in accordance with the 20th Amendment.
For example, there could be some confusion over the precise moment at which an individual is elected president. Is it on January 6th, when Congress meets to tally Electoral College ballots, or after the electors meet in December?
