After Hillary’s collapse today and her doctor’s press release saying she had pneumonia speculation has soared as to what will happen if she is forced to drop out of the race. The short answer is the Democrat National Committee (DNC) rules. They would choose a replacement for the nominee. It would not necessarily be Bernie Sanders, Tim Kaine, or Joe Biden. The DNC would meet and could choose anyone they want. If they chose someone other than Kaine, he would remain as the Vice Presidential candidate. Some expect the DNC to have an emergency meeting in the near future to consider the possibility of a Clinton withdrawal.
Details about what has to happen if a Presidential candidate dies or withdraws from the race here. No Presidential candidate has ever died between the election and the Inauguration. But should that happen and if the electoral college has voted, the Vice President would become the President.
If the Vice Presidential candidate cannot serve after the Inauguration, the President nominates a Vice President and the Congress confirms him or her. That’s how Gerald Ford became President. In 1973 Vice President Spiro Agnew was forced to resign after pleading nolo contendere (no contest) to one count of bribery received when he was Baltimore County Executive. After Agnew’s resignation President Richard Nixon appointed the House Minority Leader Gerald Ford to be the Vice President. When Nixon resigned on August 9th, 1974, Gerald Ford became President.
More here and here on what happens if Hillary is forced to withdraw.
16 comments
No way. We DO NOT want Clinton to drop out.
Clinton’s plethora of scandals, off-the-charts unlikeability (if that’s a real word), and general sleaziness are the Republican’s best assets this election.
If we lose them we’re screwed.
Agreed. We need her down, but not out. There will be continual issues related to her health, as there have been all year. And continued lack of transparency from her campaign. It is not just allergies.
Nick Chopper 2.0
Not if the democrats replace her with Jeb Bush..
My understanding is that the ballots don’t necessarily have to change if Hillary Clinton drops out or dies before the election. Technically, we are voting for Democrat party electors to serve in the Electoral College. Those electors can be directed by the DNC to vote for whomever the DNC wants to replace Clinton at any time before or after the election. I suppose the DNC would choose Bernie, but I’d guess that would be an internal party fight.
A greater risk is that the Congress would decide to change the date of the election and postpone it for months. I don’t think that would be helpful at all. We should all hope it doesn’t happen. It probably wouldn’t happen unless she dies immediately before the election (perhaps within a week or so). If there are 10 days or so remaining before the election, to allow the DNC to meet and choose a successor, I think the Republicans would have the strength to avoid changing the election date. Just my guess.
So, if this were to happen (slim chance, but let’s talk about it) the DNC can nominate anyone. Does this mean this person is automatically on the ballot? What about all this talk about how hard it would be to get someone on the ballots this late in the game?
The pneumonia diagnosis is a lie. Hillary Clinton cannot stand in churches, at cemeteries, at memorials – on ANY consecrated ground.
Omg! She’s a vampire! 🙂
,,,
Holy buckets – weren’t there blog postings just a few weeks ago about Mr. Trump dropping out? I believe the chances of Clinton dropping out are about slim to none. Why would she? She’s got a gaggle of people propping her up (literally and figuratively) and her quest for power is probably greater than her concern for her health.
Agree. She’d have to be a death’s door before she would drop out.
She stepped through long ago, she will continue to function as long as there are nearby lifeforce vessels.
Actually, Trump has to hope she stays in. He can’t defeat any other Democrat.
Whatever helps you sleep better at night.
Doesn’t affect my sleep. It is what it is.
Unless she’s dead.