What would happen to the election?

Question

What would happen if one of the candidates were to die before November?

Would Biden, or Palin then become the candidate, or would the next runner up, either Clinton or Romney, become the candidate?

And I guess, what would happen if candidate and vp choice were to die in a plane crash?

Is there any law on this, and has it happened before?

Answer 1

It would be neat if a tornado or something took mccain and obama out at a 'debate'. I like chaos.

Answer 2

It would be up to the respective parties' leadership of who would assume the candidacy.

It would be likely that the VP candidate would assume the top of the ticket.

Answer 3

The VP only accedes to the presidency once he/she is, in fact, the VP.  I suppose if it occurred far enough in advance of the election, the party could nominate another candidate.

I expect the party would nominate their runner-up.  

If there was insufficient time, I think the deceased candidate's name would be removed from the ballot, and that party would not have a specific nominee.  If there REALLY wasn't any time (say, the day before the election) the dead candidate's name may remain on the ballot, and he'd probably get votes.

Answer 4

Now that's an interesting one.  I don't entirely know, but I believe the runner up would take their place, since the VP was selected by the dead candidate.  I don't think this has ever happened before, though people who were expected to win a campaign were killed before they got the nomination before (think Bobby Kennedy).  So there would be no precedent.

Answer 5

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