When does it become too late to replace McCain?

[speedoo]

I ask this question because it occurs to me that the Obama campaign may be playing possum a little here, keeping a lot of powder dry until after both conventions, the VP choices, and Labor Day when the real campaign begins.

Is there any way the rethugs could effectively replace MCain after the rethug convention? By "effectively" I mean doing it in a way that results in a better chane for them to win.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Why would they replace the old fart? He's neck and neck in the polls.

[WeDidIt]

2. When he is nominated

They cannot replace him at all after that.

[Frustratedlady]

3. If he is no longer taking in and expelling air, they can.

...or is incapacitated, ill or senile.

Just sayin'.

[WeDidIt]

4. Ill or senile doesn't matter

McCain's name stays on the ballot.

If he dies, his name stays on the ballot but the Veep nominee gets elected should the dead guy win.

[Frustratedlady]

5. I stand corrected.

I figured if he wasn't around...or going to be around...someone would step up to take his place...namely, Jeb. Only in an emergency situation, you understand...? We have had so many changes in our government and, since this administration rarely goes by the rules, nothing will surprise me.

There's always martial law. (Sheesh! I'm getting cynical in my old age.)

[dysfunctional press]

6. november 4th.

it'll be interesting to see who they settle on as a running mate- and if that running mate would ascend to the top of the ticket, when should mccain drop out before the election.
for instance- if something had happened to poppy in october 1988- does anyone really believe that dan quayle would have been the nominee? technically, the veep pick should be the person the party considers their 2nd best choice for the potus gig...
we'll see.

[Upton]

7. Playing possum?

Lets hope that's what they're doing because so far I've been rather underwhelmed by the Obama campaign. He should be leading an old joke like McCain by double digits, this is way too close for comfort.

[cliffordu]

22. NOT YET. These things are all about momentum and timing.

Wait till the distractions of they Olympics and the Conventions are over.

I think Johnnie Boy is in for the surprise of his life.

I expect Obama's dominance after Sept.1 to be absolutely breathtaking.

The debates alone should be worth another 8 points.

[Autumn Colors]

8. I suspect this has been the GOPs plan all along

The VP will be who they REALLY want to see on the ballot. Then McCain will be forced to drop out for some reason .... illness, senility, "accidental" death .... and voila, their REAL desired candidate is at the top of the ticket right before the election, unscathed and with little time left to do any damage....

I would watch for that to happen AFTER the debates are over.

[jazzjunkysue]

9. Hard to imagine, really. In this era of 20 month campaigns.

Besides, it's just like the Chimp: Gramps really thinks he's presidential material, and will want to play president if he wins. I dn't see him giving it up. OF course, they could slip something into his geritol.....

[speedoo]

13. Yeah, I don't see McCain going along willingly.

Of course, "willingly" is a relative term.

[cliffordu]

23. Y'all underestimate an old soldier's urge to serve....

This could be the last mission the flyboy has been asked to fly. If his Commander in Chief asked him to be the sacrificial lamb in this whole thing, he'd do it without asking questions.

I'm just sayin'

[Whisp]

12. I think you are right.

and this way they can pick anyone who would never pass the test with the public, as they don't need no stupid votes for the next president.

pretty scary.

[Occam Bandage]

10. McCain is effectively tied with Obama in a year we should be cruising to a landslide.

Why on Earth would they want to replace him? He's the only candidate who could stand a chance.

[speedoo]

14. My belief is Obama will cruise to a landslide, once the real campaign begins.

The REAL campaign includes:

1. debates. Obama should crush McCain.

2. people really paying attention... they are not, yet.

3. Obama's campaign exposing McCain's weaknesses... Keating, all his flip-flops, ties to Bush, ties to lobbyists, etc.

[Occam Bandage]

20. Funny, that's the exact same game plan that was going to open up 2004 and 2000...

[speedoo]

25. That is not my recollection at all.

Bush, as evil as he is, is/was a far superior candidate to McCain, with a much more effective campaign.

[cliffordu]

26. The conditions that existed in 2000 and '04 are NOT the same clusterfuck

we have now.

People were still paying under a buck a gallon for gas (IIRC) and cheep mortgages were available for everyone.

Now? Not only are we screwed financially, but.....


Obama is a BLACK CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT who is actually up in the polls.

Just because we are (mostly) not racist on this board doesn't mean that the vast majority of Americans aren't squeamish about a black man in the white house.

I think he's doing just fine. Wait till he drops 20 million on ads exposing what McCain is REALLY all about.....one of Obama's operatives said that was coming, while on the television, just yesterday.

[cliffordu]

24. That's right - and Obama's lack of real aggression towards McCain will be

over when he has a VEEP candidiate that will be able to attack McCain with impunity - Obama cannot be very nasty or be seen as an angry black man.

I want Clark back on the TV hammering McCain over everything military....

[GoesTo11]

11. Would be costly after the convention

I can see it as a possibility either before or after, based on how nutty he seems. Plus, he doesn't seem to have a lot of power even in his own campaign, so even if he personally wanted to stay in, he could be pushed out pretty easily if party leaders wanted to.

But if they do it after the convention, then they've wasted their convention's free coverage.

It didn't work out well for McGoverh to replace Eagleton. That was on Aug. 1, 3 weeks after the convention.

[Renew Deal]

15. After the electoral college votes.

Up until then, the EC can vote for anyone.

[Ganja Ninja]

16. It's a bad year to be a Republican.

Who would want to start a presidential campaign with only 10 or 12 weeks to go considering all the negative feelings about the GOP this election cycle? No matter who it is they likely wouldn't even have the support McCain has starting this late in the game.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

17. When he became the presumptive nominee.

They're screwn.

[MrScorpio]

18. The Old Bait and Switch

Repug stylee

[underpants]

19. Lest we forget who it was SUPPOSED TO BE

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/underpants/70

[opihimoimoi]

21. Forever Tainted with Macaca on his head....

[eshfemme]

27. Oh crap, I nearly forgot about him. It all seems so long ago already.

What an ignominious end. Time to break out the google as I wonder if he's still trying to live down Macaca or has he just decided to change his identity and move someplace far away?