What happens if Joe Biden withdraws from the Democratic nomination?

What happens?

He steps down from office.

What happens if Joe Biden dies in office?

Dealing with everything we have to do with, uh, look.

Each of these scenarios is quite possible, and each carries significant constitutional,

legal and social implications.

So let's dissect these possibilities one by one.

Thank you. and social implications. So let's dissect these possibilities one by one. Let's first consider the scenario where Joe Biden steps down from the Democratic nomination,

but remains president. This would be politically the worst case scenario for the Democrats.

It would leave the next nominee carrying Joe Biden's baggage without ever assuming the power of

the presidency. But how exactly

would that happen? Well, first, let's make one thing clear. There is no real mechanism for forcing

Joe Biden off the ticket if he doesn't want to go. The so-called faithful delegate rule was put in

place by the Democratic National Committee in 1980 to prevent delegates pledged to then-president

Jimmy Carter from defecting to Senator Ted Kennedy.

Current Democratic National Committee language says, quote,

delegates elected to the National Convention pledged to a presidential candidate,

shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.

Now, theoretically, that could be interpreted to allow delegates to abandon Biden,

but that is super unlikely. If, however, Joe Biden does withdraw his candidacy before the DNC, the delegates pledged him would be free to support another candidate. Now, he could recommend his delegates follow another of the candidates like Kamala Harris, but they're not bound to his wishes. They don't have to do what he wants them to do. The DNC's rules allow for a conscience clause where delegates can vote their conscience if a nominee steps down. If the delegates are freed, intense lobbying and campaigning will follow. The Democratic National Committee has established

rules for such scenarios. If Biden steps down as presumptive nominee after securing the nomination,

...