Subj : Re: Presidential Primarie
To   : AARON THOMAS
From : Mike Powell
Date : Fri Nov 08 2024 09:40:00

>  MP> They held a primary.  The incumbent won, as they usually do.  Then the
>  MP> incumbent debated Trump, afterwhich the Democrats had to finally admit
>  MP> that their choice was senile.  There was no time for a "do-over."

> Is that an acceptable solution though? Is there a policy that calls for this
> procedure in the event that a nominee backs out of the race?

It was the only solution.  I do not think either party has a policy in
place for what happens if someone drops out.  Google 1968 Democratic
Presidential Primary (or Convention) and you can read about where this
happened before -- when an incumbent dropped out, and another candidate was
assassinated, after the primaries had started.  2024 is not the first time
votes cast for the sitting President were then pledged to the sitting VP.

Back in time, the Conventions didn't even guarantee that the primary/caucus
winner would be the nominee.  It has only been in very recent times... the
last 50-60 years, I think... that this has changed.

> Republicans wouldn't stand for it. I know I wouldn't. Crap like that would
> cause a rift between me and the Republican party. (Imagine them saying "Trump
> dropped out so the delegates have chosen Jeb Bush as a replacement!")

Jeb Bush wasn't running and wasn't VP.  Not sure who the GOP might have
chosen... although we came close to finding out... but it likely would have
been his running mate (Vance) or whoever finished second to Trump in the
primaries.

Google 1952 Republican Presidential Primary (or Convention) to see a
previous instance of one Republican (Taft) actually winning more primary
votes (over 740,000 more, if my math is correct) but ultimately losing the
nomination to another candidate (Eisenhower) who didn't even participate in
every state's primary.


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