• jeffw@lemmy.worldM
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    2 months ago

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/21/open-convention-democrats-biden-drop-out/

    “How Democrats would pick a new candidate if Biden drops out, step by step”

    One [possibility] is a virtual vote that would lock in a new nominee in early August, and the other is an “open” convention, a scenario the party hasn’t experienced since 1968.
    A convention is open when no candidate arrives with a clear majority of delegates, so the event turns into a mini-primary in which contenders scramble to persuade delegates to vote for them…
    Some states have August deadlines to get on the ballot for the general election, and early voting begins in some places in September. So party leaders probably would try to settle the nomination before the Democratic National Convention begins Aug. 19.

    There are two types of Democratic delegates. Pledged delegates commit to supporting the candidate state voters chose, although a “good conscience” clause in the party’s rules gives them a bit of wiggle room.

    Automatic delegates, often called superdelegates, are the party’s highest-profile leaders. They have the role because of the offices they hold (or held), and the group includes former presidents and vice presidents, Democratic governors, members of Congress and party officials. They are not pledged to any candidate and are not allowed to vote on the first ballot at the convention.

    • Rayspekt@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Dumb question. Why didn’t they just schedule the convention prior to all deadlines regardless who runs for office? Is there any benefit to meeting so late?

      • jeffw@lemmy.worldM
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        2 months ago

        It is before the deadlines but just barely. Typically the candidate is known before the convention, so you already have enough signatures to get on the ballot in every state

        • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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          2 months ago

          It wasn’t when they scheduled it. It was after Ohio’s deadline. And major parties don’t need signatures to put forward candidates.

          • jeffw@lemmy.worldM
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            2 months ago

            Not in a general, no. They do in a primary though. In this case, you’re right, the candidate would get on the ballot by the delegates voting

      • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
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        2 months ago

        Not really. It’ll be Harris. Biden endorsed her and already other potential Dem front-runners are endorsing her. Within in a few days it’ll be like she’s the incumbent and no one will want to run against her for the same reasons they didn’t run against Biden. Plus the additional reason that they don’t want to screw up their chances of being her VP pick.

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      2 months ago

      a scenario the party hasn’t experienced since 1968

      because the 1968 Democratic Convention went swimmingly – oh, they’re also holding this year’s convention in Chicago again you say? with increased police presence as well?

      • gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Well, at least there isn’t anything controversial going on overseas that’s got the college kids riled up this time /s

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    2 months ago

    An aside, I hate that this was posted to twitter before it was posted to Biden’s own website or the White House’s website first.

  • Xhieron@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Well congratulations “liberals”, bots, propagandists, defeatists. You win. If Trump had beaten Biden, it would have been Biden’s fault, along with the party. Now the party gets to share the blame with you. You lot gambled this for the rest of us. Let’s hope your bet pays off. Open your wallets and hit the pavement. If you’re a real person and you pitched a fit so this would happen, you got what you wanted. Act like it. Your lobbying won you an obligation to campaign. If you were on social media begging for Biden to quit, now you owe the time you spent here to Harris’s campaign (or whomever the fuck they nominate).

    You bought it. You own it.

  • nexusband@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    From my European point of view, i just hope she picks Kelly as her VP. A progressive Astronaut, Ambassador for UNITED24 and someone that knows that we should save us from the ultimate climate collapse…maybe we can get Alexander Gerst here in Germany to do some politics :D

  • VanillaBean@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Welp they must have looked at the data and saw Kamala or someone else would do significantly better. Hope they’re right.

    • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
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      It’s basically 50/50 with either Biden or Harris at the top of the ticket. Everything is in the margin of error, and polling has been notoriously inaccurate with Trump on the ballot.

      So you have to basically ignore the simple Trump vs. Biden or Trump vs. Harris or (Trump vs. anyone else you can think of) numbers because it’s pretty much unknown. But the data says a majority (even an majority of Democrats) want someone other than Biden on the ballot at election. BTW a majority of voters also want someone other than Trump on the ballot too.

      There’s also some data to suggest Trump is making some inroads with young male Black and Hispanic voters. Harris will negate a significant amount of that immediately and potentially even more when the GOP can’t resist blowing their racist dog whistles and show voters who they really are.

      So it’s kinda about looking at the data, but I think a large part of it is simple campaign facts. In times past a Presidential candidate would do two (sometimes three) rallies in two different states per day. And do interviews while traveling between campaign events. Trump isn’t capable of that pace. Biden most certainly isn’t capable of that pace. Harris can do that. We really haven’t seen a 100% balls to the wall presidential campaign in a while because it’s been two old guys in the last election and in this one… until now.

      Remember Biden also had to do the job of being President of the country while also campaigning. That’s a lot of work for even someone young, and Biden is so very old. Sure Harris is VP, but that’s mostly just getting some briefings (too keep up on events in case she might need to take over as Prez) and breaking ties in the Senate (which probably won’t be needed between now and election day). She can devote almost all of her time to campaigning while Biden couldn’t.

    • TechAnon@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      I hope so and if true we have to trust the data. My vote is solid blue based on virtues and most policies. There’s probably a lot of others like me.

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    2 months ago

    Disliked Biden, hate Kamala. Voted for them. Kamala and anyone else, nope.

    They need someone hopey and feely like a 2008 Obama. If they don’t find that, the Dems are toast. And I can’t think of any mainstream politician that could get that reaction apart from maybe AOC. But that would get just as many MAGAs on the other side out to vote and they’d still lose.

    You need empowering Democrat that is neutral to the MTG loving republicans.

    Maybe Newsom? But if I had to bet it will be Kamala and another woman or minority to get the double whammy and they’ll surely lose.

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    2 months ago

    In 2016 it was a “Vote Against Trump Regardless Of Who It Is”. It’s shaping up to be that again, but this gives me hope that maybe we’ll have someone we can vote for that we like… Even if just a little. Harris is no Obama in charm, but it’s a step in the right direction.

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        This late in the game, it’s almost certainly Harris. Probably picks a swing state governor like Whitmer or Shapiro.

        • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
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          Or Mark Kelly. Regardless, it’s probably going to be a white male from a swing state to appeal to as broad of an electorate as possible.

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          I don’t particularly like her, then again I detest nearly all politicians. That being said, I’m more motivated to vote, that’s for certain. I didn’t mind Biden, but it felt like elder abuse lol. He’s been better than anyone in my lifetime. Good God, I’d rather have her than Hilary as the first woman in the spot. Biden was just hard to watch and that position needs someone that will have to live with the consequences of the decisions in office. Will be curious to see who else puts their name in. 4 years ago he said he wouldn’t run again and he seems to be keeping that promise too. If they were clever, they’d put Biden as VP or as an advisor.

        • girlfreddy@lemmy.ca
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          If Harris is in, she can use the money already donated. Otherwise they have to start from scratch.

          So it’s almost guaranteed Harris will be in. Who they pick for VP is the question.

            • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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              On the one hand: “you can’t have her she’s ours!”. On the other, she’s out in 26 regardless, and she’s pretty good so maybe we can share with the rest of the country.

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            I find this so insane. People talk about who gets to keep the money, who has which rich asshole routing for them, which strategy has been successfull in the past, like always setting up the current president for reelection…

            We need to focus on who has actually inspiring policies and ideas. We need to focus on these, because that is what the Reps lack. All they offer is “not the Dems” while the policies they propose are actually unpopular with many of their base. And the whole “Not Trump” strategy of Biden just fell apart.

            Is there noone in the Democratic party who can actually come up with a coherent vision of the future and inspire people to follow it?

            • Pandantic [none/username]@midwest.social
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              Is there no one in the Democratic party who can actually come up with a coherent vision of the future and inspire people to follow it?

              This is why I think Pete Buttigieg should throw his hat in if they do have a primary. He just had a Bill Maher interview that just went viral because he knows how to talk to the common people. I think his visions are inspiring, he’s done a lot of work for his department, and he isn’t afraid to walk across party lines and go on Republican shows to talk about the real problems. He’s smart enough to smash Trump in a debate, calling out all his lies, and even if Trump is too scared to debate him, he has no problem laying out Trump’s lies elsewhere coherently and cognitively.

          • Qkall@lemmy.ml
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            2 months ago

            I just don’t think she can beat big orange. I’m not saying she shouldn’t … but I don’t know … doubtful

            • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.uk
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              2 months ago

              July 11th poll:

              Americans divide 46-47% between Biden and Trump if the election were today, almost identical to a 44-46% ABC/Ipsos poll result in April. Among registered voters (though there’s plenty of time to register) it’s an absolute tie, 46-46%.

              Were Vice President Kamala Harris to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee, vote choices are 49-46%, Harris-Trump, among all adults (and 49-47% among registered voters). Harris’ 49% is slightly better than Biden’s 46%, although she doesn’t have a statistically significant lead over Trump.

              Also possibly key:

              Both candidates [Biden and Trump] face a high degree of scorn. About 4 in 10 Americans say neither has the mental sharpness or the physical health to serve effectively, and as many say neither is honest and trustworthy. Sixty percent say Trump is too old for a second term, also a new high, up from 44% in spring 2023. And in a sign of the nation’s political polarization, 50% say that given his debate performance, Trump should step aside in favor of another nominee – although, in contrast with Biden, very few of Trump’s own supporters say so.

              • WoahWoah@lemmy.world
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                You can expect Harris’s numbers to drop given she’s vulnerable to almost every criticism Biden was except age and the fact that the Trump campaign has already been preparing to attack her.

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              He was a prosecutor for years, so she has plently of oratory chops, and shes 20 years younger than trump to boot.

              Her only liability is the she is a she and there are plently of sexist fucks out there. Thats it.

              • ALQ@lemmy.world
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                You forgot that she’s a POC and there are also tons of racists fucks out there.

                Even before getting to her actual credentials (some great, others really not), people will be assholes. I still have hope that she, as a former prosecutor, could mop the floor with the fascists.

          • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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            No, they don’t. The Democratic Party can give the donated money to whoever is the candidate. Not sure where people are getting that.

            Edit: After reading up, I am mistaken kind of. If Harris is still the VP candidate, the money could be used. Otherwise a PAC would have to be setup to funnel money to the candidate…maybe. Bloomberg was simply able to transfer his campaign funds directly to the DNC since it was part of his campaign money…even though the vast majority of it was his own money.

            • mrlavallee@lemmy.world
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              The money Biden has raised directly however can only go to the people that were on his ticket at the time the donation was made

              • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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                That’s correct, but nearly none of the money is the direct donation stuff - it’s almost in PACs which are (due to a legal fiction) entirely independent of the candidate.

                • mrlavallee@lemmy.world
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                  There are still more restrictions however on spending on other candidates and they would have to act like any other PAC, only helping via donating/running ads in support of (but importantly not directly by) any other candidate.

            • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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              The $100 million warchest belongs to the Biden/Harris campaign, not the Democratic Party. They are separate organizations, and Biden/Harris only answers to Biden and Harris.

              The DNC has its own funds of course, but nowhere near as much. And DNC funds are supposed to be shared with multiple Democrats, not just the one running for president.

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                And notably even if Biden/Harris were supporting the alternative, they’re an outside group. They can spend like a super PAC, but can’t pay bills or do direct advertising.

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          Half of America lost it’s mind when Obama was elected, and we’re still dealing with the fallout from that lovely dose of racism. There’s no way Kamala could win in this country.

          • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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            Obama won. And then won again. Stop pumping up the reactionaries as some unstoppable force. They’re a minority and have been on a long term losing streak.

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            2 months ago

            like all that aside, a lot of folks aren’t appreciative of her background as a cop… but yeah that’s a cherry to what you already mentioned

            • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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              And a lot of swing voters will probably like that she was a prosecutor, a “law and order” type.

                • mosiacmango@lemm.ee
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                  She aint “black” as much as “brown.” Its an incredibly stupid hair to split, but indians are generally considered a “model minority” by racists, so it will likely hurt her but not as much as you may think.

      • Kalothar@lemmy.ca
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        Senator Mark Kelly, he can do this

        He flipped AZ to blue

        He is an astronaut, all American, former servicemen

        He can get red votes and blue alike

        • ALQ@lemmy.world
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          Hmm…not bad. Not amazing name recognition, but that could be remedied.

          Having Gabby campaign for/with him, especially after the DJT assassination attempt, could be beneficial, too. (Or could look like a disgusting political plot, but that’s really all our politics.)

        • Resonosity@lemmy.world
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          I highly doubt Kamala will want to pull a sitting Democratic senator away from the 50/50 Senate given the elections coming up.

          I think there is a greater chance that she picks one of the governors. My pick is J.B. Pritzker.

          • Kalothar@lemmy.ca
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            That is true, I really was just spitballing, I’ll have to look into JB Pritzker, I’m regrettably unfamiliar with him

        • ShepherdPie@midwest.social
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          Damn that would be a great pick. I’d like to see AOC but Kelly probably has more broad appeal with all the things you mentioned.

        • alienzx@feddit.nl
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          Isn’t senator Kelly the one that created the mutant registration act?

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          Kelly or Mayor Pete seem like the best options.

          Buttigieg and AOC ticket? That would be the youth candidacy. Kelly and Buttigieg or vice versa would be more centrist but probably be the most robust candidacy.

          I hate to say it, but in this political climate and with the threat of Trump, the best shot is probably two young-ish white guys.

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      Literally any straight white man center-right democrat born after 1968 would wipe the floor with trump.

      And before anyone jumps down my throat, that’s not what I want. I want president Cortez. But presidents are chosen by money and by about 10,000 generically stupid swing voters in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

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    I’m not American but want to be in the loop. Media here is saying Kamala Harris is the likely successor. What do people think of her? Is she liked? I assume her actual politics are more or less the same since she was VP.

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    So the back the blue party of law and order will vote for the cop instead of the convicted felon now.

    Just like the religious moral right will vote for the actual church attending catholic rather than the guy who doesn’t go to church and doesn’t know how to hold a bible upright.

  • Today@lemmy.world
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    What if he stepped aside today and Harris could run as the incumbent?