Any one of the four candidates “bowing out” at this point would essentially put a Death Nail into that particular campaign.
I have often wondered what DOES happen legally (based on American Election Laws) when something happens to a major candidate this close to an election? (My thought is that they still remain on the Ballot, and can be voted for; but I’m just not positive about that).
Anyone know?
Mufasa
It happened to that guy who beat John Ashcroft. He “bowed out” because he died something like 7 weeks before the election. He still won.
I sent Mufasa’s question to a friend of mine who has been council for several state level candidates and the latest Gov candidate here.
Here is his response:
“In the Presidential race, voters actually vote for electors who then cast ballots for President. If a candidate for Presidentent or Vice President dropped out, the candidate’s party would name a new nominee and the election would go on. If ballots could not be reprinted, the ballots cast for that party’s electors would still count”
[quote]pushharder wrote:
MapShooter wrote:
pushharder wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
MapShooter wrote:
Back on topic, lets remember that Bush won the election with friggin Dukakis as his VP. …
Do you mean Quayle?
Zap, let’s face it, I don’t think we’re dealing with a history or pol science major here.
Nope, international business and religion major
Not trying to be mean here but you’re seriously booby trapping your credibility here on the Political forum if you honestly thought that GHW Bush and tank commander Dukakis ran on the same ticket.
How old are you? Maybe we’ll only give you one hour in detention if you are a young whippernapper and were in diapers in 1988.[/quote]
I wasn’t aware that we all had internet cred here on the T-Nation politics forum. And for the record, I WAS in diapers in 1988. I knew it was either Quayle or Dukakis, for some reason those 2 names come to mind, and I said Dukakis. Big Whoop! Guess I better get my butt to detention
Funny how the “dump Palin” cries come out only after the notion of Biden stepping down gained some momentum.
Palin is not stepping down. Why should she? She has energized the base, which is exactly why she was picked.
Now that you have Clinton out there pretty much campaigning for McCain - the race is all but over.
The Godfather of the Democratic Party is stumping for the Republican candidate.
Palin could turn into Teresa Heinz-Kerry, and it would not affect the race at this point.
[quote]SteelyD wrote:
I sent Mufasa’s question to a friend of mine who has been council for several state level candidates and the latest Gov candidate here.
Here is his response:
“In the Presidential race, voters actually vote for electors who then cast ballots for President. If a candidate for Presidentent or Vice President dropped out, the candidate’s party would name a new nominee and the election would go on. If ballots could not be reprinted, the ballots cast for that party’s electors would still count”[/quote]
Follow up:
Me:
“Just to take the scenario to the extreme, say McCain/Palin were, I don’t know, run over by a bus days before the election. The R-party could re-nominate whomever they wanted and the votes cast for them would go to the new candidates, so long as the state’s electors cast those final votes?”
Response:
[i]"Yes.
Of course, the electors can actually cast their votes however they like. That is why the party’s pick party loyalists for the job."[/i]
I agree that Palin is going nowhere; and shouldn’t.
This is going to be a VERY tight election, and as RJ said, Palin has ignited a major portion of the Republican base; the Christian Right.
And folks; these people network, and most importantly VOTE. They will not be staying home watching “VH-I” and playing Video Games.
Mufasa
How tight is it?
Obama was campaigning in ELKO NEVADA, folks (which is an enclave of retired, conservative gamblers, whom vote something like 80% Republican).
But Nevada is a swing state.
Things are REALLY tight as we go into the last month of this election.
Mufasa
[quote]rainjack wrote:
Palin is not stepping down. Why should she? She has energized the base, which is exactly why she was picked.
[/quote]
It isn’t the base that needed to be energized. It’s the people on the fence, and those people are quietly shuffling out of the room.
[quote]rainjack wrote:
Now that you have Clinton out there pretty much campaigning for McCain - the race is all but over.
The Godfather of the Democratic Party is stumping for the Republican candidate.
[/quote]
The only people who buy that “Clinton for McCain” crap are the same ones tripping over themselves crying “…but Clinton!” to explain the failures of the last 8 years.
You want to blame the guy for the failings of the administration, but then laud over how credible he is when you think you can whore him out to your cause? You’re not fooling anyone
Palin will have plenty of time to bow out on the 5th of November
[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
Noodle_Arms wrote:
Rational anybody who actually cares about the state of The Union should be begging Obama to Europe where he belongs. He is clearly un American in his ideology and hence not qualified to handle the job of janotor or, God help us, President.
Unfortunately, since the Obama camp cares more about winning than providing a qualified presidential pair they’ll keep him since he clearly appeals to the simpleton socialized brainwashed masses. (The idiots who have no idea why they vote.)
This win-at-all costs approach is an insult and a tragedy when marxist socialist candidates are thrust upon voters as nothing more than a gimmicky campaign of disinformation.
Fixed all that for ya.
I’m Tiribulus and I now approve this post.[/quote]
[quote]borrek wrote:
rainjack wrote:
Palin is not stepping down. Why should she? She has energized the base, which is exactly why she was picked.
It isn’t the base that needed to be energized. It’s the people on the fence, and those people are quietly shuffling out of the room.[/quote]
When a significant portion of the base was considering not voting, it was a critical move to get them re-energized.
No one is shuffling anywhere. Last I checked, the race was pretty much dead even.
Please show me where the mass migration is occurring.
[quote]The only people who buy that “Clinton for McCain” crap are the same ones tripping over themselves crying “…but Clinton!” to explain the failures of the last 8 years.
You want to blame the guy for the failings of the administration, but then laud over how credible he is when you think you can whore him out to your cause? You’re not fooling anyone
Palin will have plenty of time to bow out on the 5th of November
[/quote]
Show me where I said he was credible. Show me where I am lauding anything.
I am stating a fact. If you don’t like the fact - there is little I can do about that. But to act like I am doing something wrong by stating said fact - well - that says a shit ton more about you than it does me.
If you would like to refute what I have said - please feel free to try.
I know a lot of you are being “optimistically cautious”; but I just don’t see Obama winning this thing.
Yes; it is a close race. But it just seems to me that the GOP has more “hardcore” voting blocks. In other words, they Network strongly with each other and Vote.
Obama has also been “demonized” (ala Rove) thoroughly enough, when his race alone is enough to sway a lot of voters.
Add to his race that funny “Name-that-sounds-like-Osama”; attacks that he is an American hating/non-Flag-pin wearing/terrorist sympathizing Marxist racist who gets on his knees and prayers toward Mecca three times/day…AND called our “Sister Sarah” a PIG???
And I just don’t see him pulling this thing off…
Mufasa
You’re joking, right Mufasa? Obama has totally got the ability to pull this election out. He put on a much better show at the debate than I thought he would, and many voters are notoriously inclined to vote on style or appearance (either party of course, although I think in this case Obama has a clear advantage with his stage presence and personality), so those persuadable now by the debates will be very likely to slide his way on his great stage presence and style.
Of course that’s not the only reason he can win.
it’s close, but I’m beginning to believe the polls a bit more than I usually do.
Yeah, it’s high time to end this BS and put Romney on the ticket already.
Can Palin? How about canning McCain, instead? That would be a sight to see.
[quote]bald eagle wrote:
jp_dubya wrote:
Why would someone unqualified and inexperienced bow out? Who would Biden then pick as his veep?
Very good question dubya. I say he would pick Hillary. Either that or he and Hillary would flip for it.[/quote]
Why Hillary? Biden would be better off choosing someone with experience
Nope; not kidding.
I don’t think Obama will win.
Mufasa
I agree with Mufasa. McCain is a good campaigner, add that to the constant attacks from his supporters and his skin color and I think McCain will win it. Hell, there’s still a lot of (relatively) intelligent posters on this board who are using appeals to bigotry on the other thread with impunity. (factcheck.org s words, not mine).
The polls show Obama ahead
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html
But we’ll see what happens when it’s time to vote. A lot of Obama’s supporters won’t make it to the polls I fear. If you want Obama to win, you’d better convince your friends and family to get out the vote. I think this is McCain’s year.
[quote]Gambit_Lost wrote:
I agree with Mufasa. McCain is a good campaigner, add that to the constant attacks from his supporters and his skin color and I think McCain will win it. Hell, there’s still a lot of (relatively) intelligent posters on this board who are using appeals to bigotry on the other thread with impunity. (factcheck.org s words, not mine).
[/quote]
You guys are incredible. Skin color will get Obama more votes than it take away. Stupid argument.