Pence to replace trump? Just heard

[babylonsister]

this could be an option. But who would be vp?

Lawrence O'Donnell, now.

[oberliner]

1. It is not an option

Ballots are already set. Voting has already started.

[workinclasszero]

25. That's right...voting has already started

No do overs for the deplorable party!

Enjoy the down ballot effect of that albatross around your necks republicans!

[oberliner]

30. Let's hope

The results of this election will say a lot about our country.

[geek tragedy]

2. No, Trump is the nominee, period. nt

[still_one]

3. Only if trump steps down, and only if the RNC appoints Pence as the replacement

[babylonsister]

8. That is what they're talking about, except

for trump stepping down.

[still_one]

13. Maybe they are talking about the rally in Wisconsin tomorrow

[Buckeye_Democrat]

10. This. ^^^

I don't foresee Donald's ego allowing that to happen either.

They might have to KILL him! (Bad joke.)

[enid602]

36. money

Didn't tRump once say that he'd step down if the RNC pays him $500 million? Maybe they'll be able to agree to a price.

[still_one]

37. I am not sure if that would be legal

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. But the early voting has already started in some places...

How do they get around that?

Pence?

[still_one]

15. They don't. Those votes go to Hillary, Trump, or third party. Those votes have been cast

Last edited Sat Oct 8, 2016, 09:50 AM - Edit history (1)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

24. Thanks!

[wildeyed]

38. Maybe they would do it anyway, try to salvage down ticket.

Kelly Ayotte and a few others who are very vulnerable have been contorting themselves as they try to thread the needle of not alienating Trump supporters while still picking up the percentage of undecideds they need to squeak out a victory. After this last outrage, that is not possible anymore. The only thing would be if Trump himself withdrew. RNC has pretty much given up on winning already. His numbers were already going bad before this hit.

[Binkie The Clown]

5. It's my understanding that if Trump steps down...

the RNC must reconvene the convention and make a new nomination.

I could be wrong, but that's what I read somewhere.

[napi21]

21. You are correct. I honestly can't recall where, but I just recently heard a complete

explanation of how choosing a replacement would work. It is NOT automatically Pence. They can choose anyone they wish, it must be voted on BY the party members. (The electors voted on by the people to represent them at the convention do not count anymore.) It does NOT matter that early voting has started. It's like in the primary when somebody votes for a candidate who already dropped out.

[still_one]

26. That is correct, and those who voted early, those votes go to Hillary, Trump, or third party. Those

votes are cast. Only those who haven't cast their votes can vote for whoever the rnc chooses

[regnaD kciN]

29. It depends…

In states where electors aren't bound by the result of the popular vote, the Republicans could just appoint a slate of electors who will pledge to vote for the new nominee.

A nightmare scenario would be a case where Pence (or whoever) manages to grab away a swing state Trump couldn't win, and the vote wound up being split between Clinton, the new nominee, and a state or two whose electors are legally bound to Drumpf, so that no one gets 270. In which case, the House decides -- and is there any doubt they'll pick the Republican?

[still_one]

33. Not if Hillary has the most votes in the state, and wins that state.

Electors in these States are bound by State Law or by pledges to cast their vote for a specific candidate:

ALABAMA – Party Pledge / State Law – § 17-19-2
ALASKA – Party Pledge / State Law – § 15.30.040; 15.30.070
CALIFORNIA – State Law – § 6906
COLORADO – State Law – § 1-4-304
CONNECTICUT – State Law – § 9-175
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – DC Pledge / DC Law – § 1-1001.08(g)
FLORIDA – Party Pledge / State Law – § 103.021(1)
HAWAII – State Law – §§ 14-26 to 14-28
MAINE – State Law – § 805
MARYLAND – State Law – § 8-505
MASSACHUSETTS – Party Pledge / State Law – Ch. 53, § 8, Supp.
MICHIGAN – State Law – §168.47 (Violation cancels vote and Elector is replaced.)
MISSISSIPPI – Party Pledge / State Law – §23-15-785(3)
MONTANA – State Law – § 13-25-304
NEBRASKA – State Law – § 32-714
NEW MEXICO – State Law – § 1-15-5 to 1-15-9 (Violation is a fourth degree felony.)
NORTH CAROLINA – State Law – § 163-212 (Violation cancels vote; elector is replaced and is subject to $500 fine.)
OHIO – State Law – § 3505.40
OKLAHOMA – State Pledge / State Law – 26, §§ 10-102; 10-109 (Violation of oath is a misdemeanor, carrying a fine of up to $1000.)
OREGON – State Pledge / State Law – § 248.355
SOUTH CAROLINA – State Pledge / State Law – § 7-19-80 (Replacement and criminal sanctions for violation.)
VERMONT – State Law – title 17, § 2732
* VIRGINIA – State Law – § 24.1-162 (Virginia statute may be advisory – “Shall be expected” to vote for nominees.)
WASHINGTON – Party Pledge / State Law – §§ 29.71.020, 29.71.040, Supp. ($1000 fine.)
WISCONSIN – State Law – § 7.75
WYOMING – State Law – §§ 22-19-106; 22-19-108

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/electors.html

Very unlikely that they could garner enough swing states to turn things around at this late stage.

If I were a betting person, I also would bet it wouldn't get to the house

[Farmgirl1961]

6. I'd like to see what the law has to say about it.

Who can give a primer on this kind of thing?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. It isn't an option at this point.

The RNC nominated Trump and they can't fire him. Even if he quits, which is unlikely, Pence wouldn't automatically fill in as the nominee; the RNC would have to reconvene and nominate him. Furthermore, it's too late to get Pence (or anybody else) on the ballot as the presidential candidate in all 50 states, not to mention that people are already voting.

[babylonsister]

11. They could make new rules when it's warranted, and it's

warranted.

[C_U_L8R]

9. Rearranging deck chairs

The SS Republican is falling to pieces.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

14. Yep!

[Cracklin Charlie]

34. Thanks, Obama! eom

[saltpoint]

12. Am wondering what the Trump die-hard voters

would do if they perceived Trump was shoved off the ticket.

I guess he could step down of his own accord, but would his die-hards accept his leaving? They seem to be a cult-like bunch.

Would the GOP heavy hitters meeting tonight to decide what to do risk losing that many voters? Would it lower GOP turnout enough to hand Congress to Democrats? Would Reince Priebus want to preside over that sort of outcome?

They are up a very specific creek with no paddles in sight. And I love it.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

23. They would assume that he was forced out.

This will NOT happen because Trump's family would consider it "brand suicide," but I think their only hope is for Trump to publicly declare that his campaign was a charade that he planned with the Clintons to ensure Hillary's Presidency. There's enough kooks among Trump's supporters who believe that the Clintons are evil that they would flock to a replacement in droves. If enough independents believed the nonsense, they might do the same.

Again, that will not happen anyway.

[saltpoint]

27. What I like about this event is that there

are no good choices for the GOP following it.

No matter what they do, they likely diminish their odds of victory.

[yardwork]

39. Correct. There are millions of voters who LIKE Trump. They won't go quietly.

Forcing Trump out now would create a civil war in the Republican Party.

[justiceischeap]

41. I've seen your answer numerous times on Twitter this morning

Basically they think all Repubs in Wisconsin today are sell-outs/turncoats and are already threatening not to vote for them if they force Trump out. We've seen what their crazy base has done to moderate Republicans over the Tea Party nonsense. This is no idle threat and they know it.

[Agnosticsherbet]

16. Unless Trump agrees, he could take them to court.

[obamanut2012]

17. They cannot replace Trump

And, Pence wasn't even in the Primaries.

[rufus dog]

18. I can see them pushing the idea that they have a deal with Trump to step down after the election

Fox will push it for them, and the majority of Republicans will use that as the excuse to vote for Trump/Pence.

Problem is it won't work. It will end up disgusting many Independents.

Puts new light on Kaine working Pence to disavow Trumps other comments. He didn't - so the commercial is already written.

[Mme. Defarge]

19. Well, it's still "a free country"

so we can't make anyone run against his/her will. What if a candidate were to somehow, become incapacitated?

[Jersey Devil]

20. We vote for electors, not candidates

It matters little whose name is on the ballot. It is too late to change the names of the candidates on ballots in virtually all places, but if that candidate resigns I believe the electors pledged to a candidate (Trump) who resigns would be free to vote for anyone they want in the Electoral College.

[asiliveandbreathe]

22. This a mention re How to Flip VP and Prez

don't have to change the ballot - great read..but - only if rep. win WH - which they are NOT going to do..

http://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2016/10/6/13184492/flip-ticket-trump-pence-constitution

...snip..

The first step of The Flip must begin very soon — ideally, this week or next. At a joint press conference, Pence and Trump should with fanfare announce that, if they win in November, Pence will be in charge, thanks to the rules laid down by the Constitution’s 25th Amendment, which was ratified in 1967 after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Now this..

Hillary Clinton also has much to gain (as does, needless to say, the nation as a whole). If Republicans try this Hail Mary (Hail Mikey?) and lose, Clinton will have a stronger mandate to govern.

[vlyons]

28. Trump will be forced to make a very humble apology

maybe even at the debate.

[beachbum bob]

31. not an option as ballots already printed so the gop nominee for president would have to be

a write in....

[Hawaii Hiker]

32. If Pence or anyone else became the nominee

could he even get on the ballot in all 50 states?....I can't imagine that being possible this late, but could write in

[exboyfil]

35. One thing is for sure

The Democrats will contest any substitution in all 50 states. The laws in each state are different. Then the sucker goes to the Supreme Court which will most likely be 4-4. Then we will really have a mess. Thank you Republicans.

[apnu]

40. A month away from the election. No GOP ground game. Way behind in funraising.

To be blunt about it, the GOP is fucked. Trump dropping out or not, they are fucked.