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Question: What would happen if one of the presidential candidates died or was killed!? !?
Would the nomination automatically go to the VP running mate!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I don't believe that the Constitution makes any provision for such an event, but it seems likely that the running mate would step up!. However, I suppose there would have to be some consultation of party leaders and some process for legally recognizing the new candidate, although surely neither party would want to go to the effort and expense of a second convention in such a short time!. If the President-elect died after the election, it might simply take a Supreme Court ruling to establish that the VP-elect was now President-elect!.

As you may know, something like this almost happened in 1932 or 1933, when Franklin Roosevelt was President-elect!. Someone trying to assassinate him missed and instead killed the Mayor of Chicago, Anon Cermak, who died saying, "I'm glad it was me and not you, Frank!." Those words were inscribed on his tombstone!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If a candidate dies before the election, then the party has to choose a replacement candidate!. It cannot be assumed that the VP candidate will automatically be selected!.

However, the closer we are to the election, the logistics of choosing a new candidate becomes untenable!. If one of the candidates were to die today, the party would seem to have little choice but to accept the VP candidate as the Presidential candidate!.

If the President-elect dies before taking office, the Vice-President elect will assume the office (per the 12th Amendment to the US Constitution)!.

Thank you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

There is not an exchaustive set of rules covering every possibility!. Many of these things are pursued in the courts!.
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For example, the senate passed a law that said that McCain was a "a natural born citizen" because he born in the canal zone of Panama!. That defends him against any legal cases challenging his right to run for president!.
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After tomorrow, I think that the president and vice president elect will not travel together on the same aircraft or automobile!. They will appear together only in well-gaurded venues!. If the president-elect dies before January 20, the VP will be sworn in as president!.
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If both of them die I think that GW Bush automatically remains as president until another election can be held (which I imagine would take at least a year since primaries will have to be conducted)!.
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If the VP-elect dies, the president-elect will be sworn in on January 20!. He will propose a candidate for VP as his first act as president!. If he should die before his candidate is approved, then Nancy Pelosi becomes president and she gets to propose her own candidate for VP!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Both Year of the Dragon and Aida have great answers and there really is little one can add!.
There is no precedent for this situation to my knowledge!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Actually I think aida is right, or very close to being right!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

INTERESTING QUESTION AND GOOD ANSWERS TOWww@QuestionHome@Com

Interesting question!. You have some good answers!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Nope, you or I would have to step up to the plate and take responsibility!. We'd get it right!Www@QuestionHome@Com

No!. Then we get to pick the next president from Answers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com