# Selection of the new Democratic Presidential Ticket

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Tags:** kamala-harris\
**Created:** [July 21, 2024, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542 "2024-07-21T18:09:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 9

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**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/161 "2024-07-23T13:17:53Z")

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According to Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” this morning, the DNC plans to proceed with the virtual roll call on August 7 to formally nominate Harris (and presumably her VP pick).

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**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/162 "2024-07-23T13:43:29Z")

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So we’ll know the VP pick before August 7?

– I’m really glad to see this immediate surge of backing. What we absolutely didn’t need was the party tearing itself apart over who to nominate. And we’re not getting that at all.

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**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/163 "2024-07-23T13:48:58Z")

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> [@psychobunny](#):
>
> I don’t want it to look like she’s being annointed.

I doubt many voters will feel this. She was literally elected (by ninety million voters or whatever it was) to have basically one job: to replace the president when called upon to do so. I think most people see that “candidate for the would-be second term” as a valid form of replacement, almost as valid as the one enshrined in the Constitution.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/164 "2024-07-23T14:10:57Z")

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Yeah, “stepping down due to old age” is not all that dissimilar from death or disability. I feel i voted for her to be Joe’s replacement if needed, and the need came sooner than i had hoped. But she feels very legitimate to this one voter.

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**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/165 "2024-07-23T14:11:05Z")

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> [@thorny\_locust](#):
>
> So we’ll know the VP pick before August 7?
> 
> – I’m really glad to see this immediate surge of backing. What we absolutely didn’t need was the party tearing itself apart over who to nominate. And we’re not getting that at all.

Yep, this was a large part of my objection to all the efforts to get Joe out. I’m very glad he made the decision himself and it seems everyone is rallying to Harris in the way I hoped they would.

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**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/166 "2024-07-23T14:20:41Z")

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> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> Yeah, “stepping down due to old age” is not all that dissimilar from death or disability. I feel i voted for her to be Joe’s replacement if needed, and the need came sooner than i had hoped. But she feels very legitimate to this one voter

Agreeing with this. Harris was on the primary ballot. When I voted for Biden, I was also voting for Harris to replace him if necessary.

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**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/167 "2024-07-23T14:26:45Z")

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> [@JKellyMap](#):
>
> She was literally elected (by ninety million voters or whatever it was) to have basically one job: to replace the president when called upon to do so.

That is phrased extremely well. Plus, adds in the electoral/popular vote over Trump. Not an argument I think SHE ought to make, but other supporters…

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**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/168 "2024-07-23T15:59:24Z")

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> [@thorny\_locust](#):
>
> Harris was on the primary ballot. When I voted for Biden, I was also voting for Harris to replace him if necessary.

Really? If you say so, but I would have imagined that Biden was on the ballot by himself. Otherwise, how could a president ever switch out his VP, which FDR did twice (dumping Garner for Wallace, then dumping Wallace for Truman). And how could Trump possibly have won the GOP nod with no VP at all until he picked Vance last week? If what you say is true, then Biden would be stuck with Harris even if he wanted someone else as his VP now.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/169 "2024-07-23T16:01:31Z")

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> [@GailForce](#):
>
> If you say so, but I would have imagined that Biden was on the ballot by himself.

Even if Harris was not _literally_ on primary ballots, Biden had, from the start of his re-election campaign, made it clear that he would be sticking with Harris as his running mate.

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**Author:** ![GailForce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@GailForce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GailForce)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/170 "2024-07-23T16:02:42Z")

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> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> Biden had, from the start of his re-election campaign, made it clear

Until Sunday afternoon, he’d also made it clear that he was definitely running for re-election.

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**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/171 "2024-07-23T16:06:41Z")

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> [@GailForce](#):
>
> > [@thorny\_locust](#):
> >
> > Harris was on the primary ballot. When I voted for Biden, I was also voting for Harris to replace him if necessary.
> 
> Really? If you say so, but I would have imagined that Biden was on the ballot by himself.

I just checked the sample ballot, which is still up on my county Board of Elections site. And you’re right, the POTUS candidates were on there by themselves, without any potential vice candidates.

Thanks for the correction. I guess I just felt like I was voting for both of them. It was well publicized that he intended her to be the vice, at that point.

– I just got a Democratic fundraiser mailing. Outer envelope said it contained bumper stickers. I was thinking ‘they’ll be the wrong bumper stickers, won’t they? there won’t have been time to print out and mail new ones.’

They were hedging their bets. The stickers just say “Vote Democrat.” No names.

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**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/172 "2024-07-23T16:08:26Z")

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> [@thorny\_locust](#):
>
> – I just got a Democratic fundraiser mailing. Outer envelope said it contained bumper stickers. I was thinking ‘they’ll be the wrong bumper stickers, won’t they? there won’t have been time to print out and mail new ones.’
> 
> They were hedging their bets. The stickers just say “Vote Democrat.” No names.

Or maybe, literally, the Democratic Party just wanted you to Vote Democrat all along. Joe and Kamala were not the only people running for the only offices up.

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**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/173 "2024-07-23T16:09:29Z")

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Unless you live in a swing state, voting Democrat down h ballot may have more impact than your vote for the top of the ticket. So yes, they want you to vote Democrat.

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**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/174 "2024-07-23T16:26:33Z")

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> [@JRDelirious](#):
>
> Or maybe, literally, the Democratic Party just wanted you to Vote Democrat all along. Joe and Kamala were not the only people running for the only offices up.

Possible. But I don’t think I’ve gotten such a mailing before that didn’t have the presidential candidates’ names on a sticker.

> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> Unless you live in a swing state, voting Democrat down h ballot may have more impact than your vote for the top of the ticket.

True.

They’ve gerrymandered my House district into an almost certain R win. Will be voting anyway, on the thin chance that it’ll help. (NY Senate seats are pretty secure.)

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**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/175 "2024-07-23T17:18:40Z")

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Shumer and Jeffries just endorsed Harris. They almost seemed shocked at how crazy her support has been.

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**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/176 "2024-07-23T17:24:12Z")

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> [@GailForce](#):
>
> > [@thorny\_locust](#):
> >
> > Harris was on the primary ballot. When I voted for Biden, I was also voting for Harris to replace him if necessary.
> 
> Really? If you say so, but I would have imagined that Biden was on the ballot by himself. Otherwise, how could a president ever switch out his VP, which FDR did twice (dumping Garner for Wallace, then dumping Wallace for Truman).

To everything there’s a season. As I recall, each of FDR’s switches was done at or before the National Convention, so at least the _general_ election voters knew each time who they were getting as FDR’s backup. I imagine that was a bigger consideration in 1944 than the previous elections, as events eventually bore out.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/177 "2024-07-23T18:02:16Z")

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> [@John\_Bredin](#):
>
> As I recall, each of FDR’s switches was done at or before the National Convention, so at least the _general_ election voters knew each time who they were getting as FDR’s backup.

Also, in those days, primaries and caucuses (and, by extension, the input of everyday voters) were not nearly as integral to the selection of a presidential ticket as they became in the 1960s and 1970s. The “smoke-filled back rooms” at the conventions was where the real decisions were made, and that was considered to be the norm.

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**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/178 "2024-07-23T18:45:32Z")

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> [@bordelond](#):
>
> FWIW, Hakim Jeffries and Chuck Schumer are also waiting.

FWIW again: **[Hakim Jeffries and Chuck Schumer held a joint news conference this afternoon](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/democratic-leaders-chuck-schumer-hakeem-jeffries-endorse-harris-presid-rcna163249)** and both have formally endorsed Harris.

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**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/179 "2024-07-27T23:32:21Z")

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> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#):
>
> Yep, this was a large part of my objection to all the efforts to get Joe out. I’m very glad he made the decision himself

Who other than Biden himself could have, and would have, made that decision? Unless you’re envisioning some sort of wacky 25th Amendment shenanigans…

Or was there some other way Joe could have been involuntarily kicked to the curb? Maybe if his delegates revolted againt him?

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**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/selection-of-the-new-democratic-presidential-ticket/1004542/180 "2024-07-28T01:18:08Z")

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> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#):
>
> Who other than Biden himself could have, and would have, made that decision?

No one could really. **That was the point I was making in the thread about Biden dropping out.** Various posters and pundits were suggesting Biden could be forced out. I pointed out that could not actually be done without a decision from the DNC changing the rules. I also argued this would result in chaos at the convention and would seriously harm the party’s chances of winning.

Therefore the best course, I argued, was for Biden to make the decision. That is what happened and now things are in a much better place.

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