• jordanlund@lemmy.worldM
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    9 months ago

    I’m not sure what “mistake” Biden could be repeating here. If he dies in office, Harris becomes President.

    If they want to argue that if he dies before the election that leaves the Democrats with no clear candidate which would lead to a Trump win they need to be more clear about that.

    Harris, undoubtably, would see herself as the candidate as the sitting President, which makes sense, see Johnson - 1964, but her unpopularity even among her own staff would make her unelectable.

    But that’s not a Biden problem and that’s not the same mistake Ginsberg made.

    • Extra_Special_Carbon@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      My only real concern is if he dies after getting on the ballot, but before January 20th. We need him in a plastic bubble those months.

      • jordanlund@lemmy.worldM
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        9 months ago

        There’s a fantastic novel on the topic called “The People’s Choice” by Jeff Greenfield of all people.

        Here’s the scenario:

        Election happens, winner dies, but he dies before the elecoral certification.

        VP thinks he’s the candidate, but he isn’t.

        The 2nd place finisher argues he should be President as the next largest vote getter.

        Faithless electors then decide who becomes President.

        • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          In reality, electors are generally party loyalists. They would vote along party lines, probably for the VP.

      • njm1314@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        I’m not sure I understand your comment, if him and Harris win the election then she would still become president if he dies in The intervening time between then and January 20th. They would have voted for her on the ballot that’s how the election works.

        • Extra_Special_Carbon@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          I guess I’m less certain that is correct. Maybe after the house certifies the election it’s fine. But you know Republicans will stink about it, and SCOTUS may side with them,

          • njm1314@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            Well I mean they can make a stink about it and and the Supreme Court is certainly an illegitimate body at this point. But democratically speaking if Harris was on the ballot and won the election she is the elected president at that point. I mean weather other bodies try to illegally subvert the election is irrelevant to that. The votes were cast for her.