Hillary Clinton Drops Out...What Happens?

[Kerry]

I normally stay out of the politics section, especially national politics, because having a serious conversation on an anonymous public forum is nearly impossible, but here it goes anyhow.

Let's assume for whatever reason Hillary drops out of the Presidential race.  What happens?

I don't think the Democrats can just nominate someone else to fill the HRC space on the ballot and it is too late in many state to add another name.  As the Democratic nominee, people are voting for her as the candidate (or at least should be), not a placeholder.  If it was just a placeholder what would stop a party from running a candidate (or no candidate at all) and then after the election switch out the winner?  The only choices I would see at that point is either pick from the remaining candidates on the ballot, or write in a name.  For Tim Kaine to become President via the 25th Amendment Hillary would have to be sworn in first (not possible if she drops out).

Since the electoral college is the group that actually votes for the President (oh the irony that many Democrats support getting rid of the electoral college) they could vote for whomever they want.  The public vote is just a recommendation.  With that in mind there probably isn't an issue unless a dead HRC wins and the electoral college votes accordingly, in which case Trump would be President and Kaine Vice President - which also ironically is what the original wording of the Constitution envisioned (the person getting the most votes is President and the second most votes is Vice President).

For the record, I don't think there is anyway HRC drops out unless she dies.

[jaxjaguar]

I'm not positive, but I believe the nomination would go to the nominee with the second highest amount of votes, which would be Sanders. I can't see any situation shy of death that would cause Hilary to drop out though.

[Adam White]

I normally stay out of the politics section, especially national politics, because having a serious conversation on an anonymous public forum is nearly impossible, but here it goes anyhow.

Let's assume for whatever reason Hillary drops out of the Presidential race.  What happens?

I don't think the Democrats can just nominate someone else to fill the HRC space on the ballot and it is too late in many state to add another name.  As the Democratic nominee, people are voting for her as the candidate (or at least should be), not a placeholder.  If it was just a placeholder what would stop a party from running a candidate (or no candidate at all) and then after the election switch out the winner?  The only choices I would see at that point is either pick from the remaining candidates on the ballot, or write in a name.  For Tim Kaine to become President via the 25th Amendment Hillary would have to be sworn in first (not possible if she drops out).

Since the electoral college is the group that actually votes for the President (oh the irony that many Democrats support getting rid of the electoral college) they could vote for whomever they want.  The public vote is just a recommendation.  With that in mind there probably isn't an issue unless a dead HRC wins and the electoral college votes accordingly, in which case Trump would be President and Kaine Vice President - which also ironically is what the original wording of the Constitution envisioned (the person getting the most votes is President and the second most votes is Vice President).

For the record, I don't think there is anyway HRC drops out unless she dies.

I don't know what the DNC rules are, but those are what would dictate how this is handled.

People seem to operate under the false notion that political primaries are somehow elections - they aren't. All they are is the way the political party in question chooses its candidate. It's a candidate selection process that some parties don't follow - they may nominate a candidate at a party convention or caucus without the primary/delegate system beforehand.

[fsquid]

I'm guessing the DNC would get to pick a replacement.   I don't think Clinton drops out unless she dies.

[Adam White]

Here's your answer:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/09/13/what-happens-if-clinton-drops-out.html

They pick a replacement, basically.

[spuwho]

Interesting, Hillary doesnt disclose her pneumonia and the press is predicting the replacement process.

Transparency in Presidential health started after FDR. He refused to have his conditions disclosed repeatedly and when he died of stroke, high BP and iron clad arteries, the press pushed for more visibility. Hence we knew more about Eisenhower's heart attacks than most.

That changed when Bill Clinton became president. He only gave the "generally healthy" for the most part until his cardiologist told him to layoff the cheeseburgers.

Dont see much variance from his wife. She will keep her health to herself until the daisies start pushing.

Pneumonia at her age should not be shrugged off however. She is not the young rebel she was in her college days.

[Adam White]

Pneumonia at her age should not be shrugged off however. She is not the young rebel she was in her college days.

True - but pneumonia is something even the healthiest person can get. It's not necessarily a sign of poor health. I had it when I was a kid (and was hospitalised as a result).

[Tacachale]

The GOP has some actual procedures in place for if the candidate dies. The DNC's are vaguer, but yes, what would happen would be a reconvening of the delegates (or some of them) in a special session to pick a new candidate. The biggest issue is if it happens once ballots are already distributed (some absentee ballots already are). However, Congress also has the authority to push back the election if necessary.

And yes, the only way Clinton's out is if she dies. Same as Trump and all candidates before them.

Additionally, the electoral college vote isn't just random. The electors only even become electors if their candidate wins the popular vote in that state. So, if either Clinton or the hypothetical Democratic replacement won Florida, their EC nominees would be the state's electors, and there's a vanishingly small chance that any of them would vote for Trump.

[Kerry]

Delete this initial comment as Stephendares post covered it all.  Thanks.

[RattlerGator]

What happens? Same thing if she stays in, (cough) Republicans (cough) win in a landslide. Kaine would have to be the choice made by the DNC bigwigs to avoid an all-out internal war. But there is no way in hell Hillary voluntarily steps aside.

Need some more gin with that water, Hillary? Look out for the flash bulbs, dear. Wouldn't want another "spell," now would we?

[fsquid]

Donald trump loses in an even bigger landslide, that's what happens.

If they pick Biden, I agree big time.

[MusicMan]

Roosevelt had polio, didn't he?

I remember when George Bush puked on the Japanese then passed out at a pretty important function?  Were folks calling for him to resign after that?

Hopefully Dr Oz will ask Trump to do a push up.  Now that would be "Must See TV."

[Kerry]

Well, I started this as a hypothetical discussion on a candidate dropping out before the election as I was 100% sure HRC would not drop out of the race unless she dropped dead, but now I am not so sure.  After events and revelations over the last few days I am almost certain that she has advanced Parkinson's Disease (Stage IV and moving in to Stage V).  Alas, I still think there is no way she quits unless she collapses on stage during a debate (which is increasing in probability every minute).

Since this site is heavily populated by Democrats I have to ask, if she in fact does have Stage IV Parkinson's Disease would you prefer her to drop out and let someone else campaign, or just ride it to the end?

[Tacachale]

Well, I started this as a hypothetical discussion on a candidate dropping out before the election as I was 100% sure HRC would not drop out of the race unless she dropped dead, but now I am not so sure.  After events and revelations over the last few days I am almost certain that she has advanced Parkinson's Disease (Stage IV and moving in to Stage V).  Alas, I still think there is no way she quits unless she collapses on stage during a debate (which is increasing in probability every minute).

Since this site is heavily populated by Democrats I have to ask, if she in fact does have Stage IV Parkinson's Disease would you prefer her to drop out and let someone else campaign, or just ride it to the end?

Thanks for the diagnosis, Doctor. Have you broken the news to Bill yet, or were you waiting until after you'd told us here at Metro Jacksonville?

[Tacachale]

FWIW, Snopes debunked the armchair diagnoses that Hillary has Parkinson's disease:

http://www.snopes.com/hillary-clinton-has-parkinsons-disease/

This was apparently started by an anesthesiologist, conspiracy theorist, and anti-Clinton partisan. He isn't a neurologist and has never examined Clinton outside of some cherry-picked clips, which he assembled into a YouTube video of the type that persuades the prejudiced and gullible. The person who has actually examined Clinton, her physician Lisa Bardack, has said she's in good shape, a bout with pneumonia notwithstanding.

Conspiracy theorists and random people on the Internet claiming the ability to diagnose a serious neurological disorder like Parkinson's in a person they've never met insult everyone who's ever had to face the disease in themselves or their loved ones.