# Can the Democratic party nominate someone other than the incumbent President at their convention? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [June 28, 2024, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428 "2024-06-28T02:45:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/21 "2024-06-28T05:42:56Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The corporate entity “Joe Biden for President” can’t just turn itself into “Gavin Newsom for President” overnight, and they can’t just give all their money and employees to some other corporation. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/22 "2024-06-28T05:59:19Z")
Yep, this is a war, not an ordinary campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/23 "2024-06-28T06:44:47Z")
Since this is obviously a hot topic, is this the thread for debating whether it’d be smart to replace Biden? If not, is there one we can bump, or should a new dedicated one be made? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/24 "2024-06-28T07:48:51Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > I understand why you say this but I’m not 100% convinced. There are others. Who, for instance? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/25 "2024-06-28T10:06:43Z")
Oh, you know William Nemo? Mayor of Someplace, Maryland? Real go-getter and the kids love him! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/26 "2024-06-28T10:10:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Who, for instance? The person the Democrats were going to run in 2028. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/27 "2024-06-28T11:12:11Z")
I’m far from convinced that it’d be a good idea, and even less convinced that he’d be interested, but NC Governor Roy Cooper is competent, energetic, slightly younger (67), and fairly popular. There’s a decent chance he could pull NC to the blue side. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/28 "2024-06-28T11:47:31Z")
And as a total unknown in the other 49 states accomplish what exactly? Which is the problem almost anyone other than Biden faces. There are enough low info voters out there who vote a mix of slight party lean and lots of name recognition. Star power, even evil star power, is worth a few percent. Which is more percents than the Ds can afford to give away. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/29 "2024-06-28T11:54:40Z")
4 months is enough time to big up whoever they pick if they get cracking on it. Biden’s a liabilty, he has been for a long time, but that debate was the 1 ton weight that broke the already struggling camel’s back. Biden will not win, a quickly selected charismatic candidate who goes on a very condensed campaign might, (speaking in the UK, calling a 4 month campaign condensed is something of a laugh) though ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/30 "2024-06-28T11:57:12Z")
4 months is enough time to get cracking on it? This is the US, not some country with a parliamentary system. Hasty decisions made in a panic are rarely a good idea for buying cars, much less selecting a President. If we were going to change course, starting at least 1 year ago (2 would be better) was the time to do it. Evaluate public sentiment first. People who watch the debates seriously are one thing (much less Dopers) but, as many predicted, so far the needle does not seem to have moved in terms of actual voters. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/31 "2024-06-28T12:01:36Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > I’d be excited to vote for her. Lots of people would. It would be a good story. Basically you are voting for Harris when you vote for Biden. Biden is just running becasue he is the only one that can get the votes needed to defeat Trump, he will hand over the office to Harris after an appropriate amount of time. And she is well qualified. I don’t think that the debate actually changes anything. Trump lies and Biden is old, we already knew this. If you listened to what they actually said about policies (that were not lies) then Biden did win in that department. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/32 "2024-06-28T12:01:52Z")
At this point the Dems are stuck. A last minute replacement will be seen as a desperation move (correctly, because it absolutely is), and desperation doesn’t win elections. They can stick with Biden, who _might_ win (chances are debatable, but are looking worse), or they can dump him and frantically start over, both in terms of money and messaging, and almost certainly lose. The choice is between bad odds and worse odds. Good job, national Dems! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/33 "2024-06-28T12:09:02Z")
The regularly scheduled post first-debate Democratic panic has begun. Thank you to everyone for playing your roles so well. Never mind that this happens nearly every election and likely has little or no impact on the actual voting. ---
**Author:** ![colinfred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colinfred/32/21338_2.png) [@colinfred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colinfred)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/34 "2024-06-28T12:15:07Z")
Just as a data point, £10 on Biden will get you £47 profit at Betfair. Last time I looked, not long ago, it would have got £13 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/35 "2024-06-28T12:17:34Z")
I remember similar wild shifts in the betting markets in 2012 after Obama’s first debate with Romney. Democrats sure love to panic. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/36 "2024-06-28T12:34:38Z")
It’s not just a question of who might be a better candidate. There were a number of other Democrats I would have voted for in the 2020 primary. But they’re all irrelevant now, because for the Democratic Party to switch away from their incumbent President would be a massive show of weakness. And voters hate shows of weakness. That’s why running anyone else would be conceding the race. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/37 "2024-06-28T13:14:31Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Basically you are voting for Harris when you vote for Biden. I’m voting against Trump mostly. But I’m certainly voting for Biden. I think he’s a good politician. I just never thought past the election before. Now, 4 more years seems like a really long time. > [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > If you listened to what they actually said about policies (that were not lies) then Biden did win in that department. Sure. I agree. But he only won because he was debating Trump. Win seems like a strong word. Here’s Biden’s softball abortion response: > BIDEN: It’s been a terrible thing, what you’ve done. > > The fact is that the vast majority of constitutional scholars supported Roe when it was decided, supported Roe. And that was – that’s – this idea that they were all against it is just ridiculous. > > And this is the guy who says the states should be able to have it. We’re (ph) in a state where in six weeks, you don’t even know whether you’re pregnant or not, but you cannot see the doctor or have your – and have him decide on what your circumstances are, whether you need help. > > The idea that states are able to do this is a little like saying, we’re going to turn civil rights back to the states. Let each state have a different rule. > > Look, there’s so many young women who have been – including a young woman who just was murdered and he – he went to the funeral. The idea that she was murdered by a – by –by an immigrant coming in, and they talk about that. But here’s the deal, there’s a lot of young women who are being raped by their – by their in-laws, by their – by their spouses, brothers and sisters, by – just – it’s just – it’s just ridiculous. And they can do nothing about it. > > And they tried to arrest them when they cross state lines. That’s a mess. I suppose it’s not a lie (which is actually worse) but It’s hard to fact check. I still think there is time to switch. It’ll be a shock, but there’s enough time to get used to it. And you’d actually be excited to vote for the person. Anti-votes can only take you so far when you perform like that. Hillary and Harris. Redemption. Women in charge. Swing for the fences. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/38 "2024-06-28T13:16:58Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I remember similar wild shifts in the betting markets in 2012 after Obama’s first debate with Romney. Democrats sure love to panic. I remember some worry about that first Obama/Romney debate, but this is on a completely different level. There are no less than [three](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/opinion/presidential-debate-trump-biden-2024.html) [opinion](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/opinion/presidential-debate-biden-trump.html) [pieces](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/opinion/joe-biden-tom-friedman.html) in the NY Times alone this morning saying that Biden should step down. I don’t recall that level of panic in 2012, and to dismiss this situation as “business as usual” for Democrats seems like putting blinders on. That said, I think everyone does have a tendency in the 24-minute outrage news cycles that we currently live in to immediately jump to extremes about just about everything, so taking a breath and letting folks calm down for a few days is probably a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/39 "2024-06-28T13:32:42Z")
There does indeed seem to be more panic this time. But it’s still the same panic. Democrats are always on the verge of panic. It doesn’t take much. A poor debate performance is not that big a deal in the scheme of things for an election. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428/40 "2024-06-28T13:35:34Z")
The last time there was this high level of panic, at least in my memory, was the Republicans in '16 after the Access Hollywood tape. Panic is normal and pretty common and usually doesn’t tell us anything about the actual voting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-democratic-party-nominate-someone-other-than-the-incumbent-president-at-their-convention/1003428.md?page=3)