The first presidential debate is done and the aftermath has not been good for the incumbent, Joe Biden.

Some Democrat politicians and operatives reportedly texted CNN commentators with hopes that Mr Biden, 81, would step aside. Some floated the possibility of going to the White House and publicly stating concerns about him remaining as candidate.

But if Mr Biden were to drop out, it would be a free-for-all. There is no official mechanism for him or anyone else in the party to choose his successor, meaning Democrats would be left with an open (Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago from August 19-22.

  • Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee
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    2 days ago

    There is no official anything when two duopolic corporations (with wildly similar interests) decide which candidates to bring forward. They decide which two will be the only viable choices.

    Afaik there are no legal requirements binding them except the restrictions who is eligible (“being born in USA”, that sort of arbitrary weirdness).

    • TurboWafflz@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Being born in the US is such a stupid requirement. Someone who immigrated here as a child in a relatively non-wealthy family would understand the average american so much better than the super wealthy politicians we have now

    • dhork@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      being born in USA", that sort of arbitrary weirdness

      The actual requirement is “natural-born citizen”, which doesn’t really have a definition. John McCain was born on a US military base in Panama, Rafael Edward Cruz was born in Calgary, yet both were citizens at birth and nobody contested their status as “natural-born” when they ran for President

      • Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee
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        2 days ago

        So vaguely USA flag styled placenta & a gun, got it.

        I remember the McCain debate, yes, it makes sense for the ‘citizen’ part. Not sure why does it have to be from birth tho. But it was prob written in colonial times or something.