What happens when a Presidential candidate dies?

[John Gauger]

I was pointing out to my friends today that McCain is clearly on his last legs and one of them asked what happens when a candidate dies. I had never really thought about that. What if McCain dies before the convention? What if he dies after he is officially the nominee? I would figure that Huckabee gets it if he bites it before the convention, unless Romney comes back. But I have no idea what happens if he dies after he is already the GOP candidate for President? Has that ever happened before? I don't recall ever hearing about that before. I mean, RFK died the same day as his announcement, so it didn't really affect the race.

[babylonsister]

1. He goes to heaven or hell? Or no where?

Seriously, McCain isn't on his last legs unless you've heard something I haven't, he just looks old compared to the youthful Dems.

[screembloodymurder]

3. He goes to Hell.

He's a Republican.

[XemaSab]

5. Go watch the videos on his website

I wasn't thinking he was that old until I saw the videos. He's trying to look calm and statesmanlike, but he winds up looking doddering. :(

[babylonsister]

6. I'd rather eat paint.

:P

[XemaSab]

8. Sweet, sweet paint.

:9

[John Gauger]

7. I think he has been pretty clearly been going downhill for over a year.

Before he was even a candidate my father and I began discussing how old and feeble he seemed. Going back to the run-up to the surge, which IIRC is approaching a year and a half ago. You can only go downhill for so long before you die. I'm no expert, but I'd say he's demented. (Although with Republicans that doesn't really have anything to do with age....)

[FARAFIELD]

2. a candidate never died before the nomination

But one did die after nomination, so we dont know. I suppose they could go with number 2. But if it was after the nomination but before the election they could elevate the VEEP. good reason enough for a normal person, not to vote for mccain

[XemaSab]

4. I was wondering that last week

Like, if McCain picks, say, Condi for the VP, is it then Condi, Huckabee, or someone else? :shrug:

[stevietheman]

9. Obama vs. Condi... wouldn't that be like MLK vs. Aunt Jemima? :) n/t

n/t

[XemaSab]

11. BURN!

:evilgrin:

[billyoc]

10. There's no rule for this, the Republicans could do whatever they wanted.

Pretty much business as usual for them.

[TexasObserver]

12. The party picks a candidate. RNC for McCain's passing, should he.

[MADem]

13. I would imagine if he died BEFORE the convention, the delegates would nominate a new

candidate...the old "smoke filled room" game.

But don't write McCain off just because he is OLD.

His mother, and her twin sister, are ninety five and HEALTHY.

If his old man hadn't boozed like a fish and smoked like a chimney, he'd probably still be here too.

The guy has some halfway decent genetic code, and most of his "infirmities" are owed to his broken body due to POW torture. It doesn't mean, necessarily, that he'll croak because he had so many shattered bones that have been put back together. He's just kinda halfassed repaired, but so long as the ticker keeps ticking and he can handle the skin cancer issues...he could keep going for awhile. Don't count on him checking out from the GOP Hotel just yet...!

[John Gauger]

14. I don't know...

He's just looks so old.... All joking aside, his mind seems so feeble. For a while now he's looked ready to keel over. Then again, my mother has been wondering for forty years when Paul Harvey is finally going to snuff it. And he's somehow still alive.

[Stardust]

15. Awwww, now you gone n' done it...I almost feel sorry for the old fart, now.

And I've done some pretty f'd up things when feeling sorry for people...:(

[John Gauger]

17. Just so long as you don't vote for him you're alright.

[RamboLiberal]

16. I have to admit the thought crossed my mind

And it could happen to McCain. I'm also wondering if he might die in office.

In the first scenario the Repubs would sure be screwed!

[mtnsnake]

18. Dude, you are making for some bad karma there

That's a no-no, donchya know?

[John Gauger]

27. How, by discussing another man's mortality?

We all have to die, you know. There isn't any other way out of life.

[Bitwit1234]

19. LOOK with all the weirdos out there don't even mention that.

it would not take more than a hint for some assholes like the guy just did.

[book_worm]

20. RFK didn't die the same day as his announcement he died the day of the CA primary

three months after he announced. Or rather he was shot the day of the CA primary and died I think the next day. It's also a misconception that RFK would have been the '68 nominee. For one thing he and McCarthy were splitting the anti-war delegates while Humphrey had most of organized labor and the South behind him and in those days that still meant something. Humphrey was actually the leading candidate for the nomination in '68. Primaries were not as important in those days and there were only a handful of them at that time.

[backscatter712]

21. That does pique my morbid curiosity.

What happens if the party's nominee dies? Does the second-place candidate take over? Or does the running mate take over?

What happens after the election if the President-Elect dies before inauguration? Does the VP-Elect become the Pres. Elect?

[anigbrowl]

22. After the nomination his running mate would take over as candidate..

and choose a new running mate, probably the #2 contender in the primaries or so, to build a unity ticket.

It's a risk, since McCain is pretty old. On the other hand his mother is 96 so he might run and run like the energizer bunny. But it's a factor, and it means his VP will be scrutinized as carefully as McCain, since there's a strong possibility he could have to take over during a McCain presidency.

[nonconformist]

23. I would guess that the VP nominee would then take over?

Or maybe the runner up in the GOP primary would? I dunno, good question.

[Radical Activist]

24. If he dies before the convention then the convention would pick a candidate.

If he dies after election day, but before the electoral college meets, then the electoral college, and/or eventually Congress would have to pick the President if the person who died was the winning candidate.

If someone dies after the convention but before election day then I don't know what happens.

[Historic NY]

25. They usuallly bury him.

[Spirochete]

26. Bush declares martial law

and cancels the elections.