Politics Question

[theworm[$]]

Heaven forbid something were to happen to one of the Presidential candidates and he couldn't continue running (illness, death, etc), would the VP candidate automatically take the nomination or is there some other procedure?

Do the rules differ between the parties?

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

When Eagleton bowed out, the party had a mini-convention to choose a new VP candidate. I dunno if the Dem and GOP rules differ on this point.

[jgibson2[$]]

I love google

Republican process:

RULE NO. 9
Filling Vacancies in Nominations

(a) The Republican National Committee is hereby authorized and empowered to fill any and all vacancies which may occur by reason of death, declination, or otherwise of the Republican candidate for President of the United States or the Republican candidate for Vice President of the United States, as nominated by the national convention, or the Republican National Committee may reconvene the national convention for the purpose of filling any such vacancies.

(b) In voting under this rule, the Republican National Committee members representing any state shall be entitled to cast the same number of votes as said state was entitled to cast at the national convention.

(c) In the event that the members of the Republican National Committee from any state shall not be in agreement in the casting of votes hereunder, the votes of such state shall be divided equally, including fractional votes among the members of the Republican National Committee present or voting by proxy.

(d) No candidate shall be chosen to fill any such vacancy except upon receiving a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election.

Democrat process

Duties and Powers. The Democratic National Committee shall have general responsibility
for the affairs of the Democratic Party between National Conventions, subject to the provisions of the
Charter and to the resolutions or other official actions of the National Convention. This responsibility shall
include, but not be limited to:
(a) Issuing the Call to the National Convention;
(b) Conducting the Party's Presidential Campaign;
(c) Filling vacancies in the nominations for the office of the President and Vice President

Somehow I don't think either Palin or Biden would move to the top of the ticket.

[theworm[$]]

Thanks Judy! I probably could have googled if I wasn't so lazy.
I was wondering if something happened to McCain, if Palin would be the candidate.
I also wondered if something happened to Obama, would Biden or Clinton become the candidate.

I hope we don't find out in either case, but it would be interesting.

[jgibson2[$]]

Technically, it could go either way, but I just don't see the party execs throwing the election away by putting the VP candidates at the top of the ticket. I don't see Biden beating McCain and I don't see Palin beating Obama.

Once the election has been held and the votes cast by the Electoral College, the Constitution says that the VP candidate would take office and choose their own VP.

[lynnzop[$]]

Great question, and thanks for finding the answer, Judy!

I couldn't see either of the Veep candidates beating the other Prez candidate either, but I'm sure in any case that TPTB consider this and have some back up plan ready to go, just in case.