This past weekend saw a whirlwind of activity regarding a Democratic Party internal debate as to whether President Joe Biden should be its nominee for re-election or withdraw, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorialized, “for the good of the country.” And Georgia, and two other swing states, would be especially important if Biden retired in favor of another candidate.
Prominent media, Democrat and Republican voices say it could be nearly impossible for Biden, after his embarrassing Thursday debate performance, to defeat former President Donald Trump in November. Consider that a new CBS poll shows a whopping 72 percent of respondents don’t think Biden has the “mental and cognitive health” to be president.
Yet there are serious obstacles should Biden withdraw, and another candidate replaces him.
On Saturday, the Washington-based Heritage Foundation’s “Oversight Project” warned, “If the Biden family decides that President Biden will not run for re-election, the mechanisms for replacing him on ballots vary by state. There is the potential for pre-election litigation in some states that would make the process difficult and perhaps unsuccessful.
“Given the expected intensity of election integrity concerns in this election cycle, policymakers and the public should be educated and aware of the contentious path ahead,” it added. For example, various states– including swing states such as Georgia — might not allow a replacement on the ballot.
Georgia would allow Biden to withdraw up to 60 days before the election. If Biden withdraws afterward, his name will remain on the ballot but votes for him would be discarded.
Heritage research found that Wisconsin does not allow a candidate’s name to be withdrawn from the ballot except due to death. Nevada allows changes to its ballot up until 5:00pm on the fourth Friday of June in the election year — it also allows special consideration for if nominees die or are determined to be mentally unable to proceed. Other states have restrictions on timing and the reason for withdrawal from ballots.
Bottom line: The Democratic Party is at a crossroads as it has become apparent to the public that its presumed presidential nominee’s mental acuity seems to be rapidly deteriorating.
