Joseph, on the contrary, the Lautenberg maneuver is easier in a presidential election, because the fifty state elections are not for the president at all, but for lists of would-be electors, who are pledged to support their respective parties’ nominee. Each party’s rules say that its national committee has the authority to replace the presidential ticket. They can do so two weeks before the election, or the day before, or even after the election, at any time until Dec 14, when the electors vote. Since electors are chosen for their loyalty to the party, almost all of them can be expected to vote for the new nominee whoever it is.
Menu