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How conservatives could make it very hard for Democrats to replace Biden on the 2024 ballot if he has a disastrous debate or steps aside
An influential Republican group is already prepping for a counter-fight should Democrats try to pull Joe Biden off the top of the ticket.
'Due to the rapid decline of President Biden, as seen by his bizarre episode at the G-7, The Oversight Project is taking the unprecedented step to release this draft,' said Mike Howell, Executive Director of The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project, in a statement.
'We are monitoring the calls from across the country for President Biden to step aside, either now or before the election, and have concluded that the process for substitution and withdrawal is very complicated. We will remain vigilant that appropriate election integrity procedures are followed.'
If Joe Biden were to withdraw at any point before the Democratic National Convention, it would be up to the delegates at the DNC to pick a new nominee. But from there, they can expect legal challenges from Republicans looking to prevent any other Democratic nominee from getting on the ballot in certain states.
An influential Republican group is already prepping for a counter-fight should Democrats try to pull Joe Biden off the top of the ticket
The Heritage Oversight project has set their sights on three contentious swing states where they believe taking Biden off the Democratic ticket would not allow anyone else to replace him: Georgia, Nevada and Wisconsin.
Wisconsin does not allow withdrawal from the ballot for any reason besides death.
In Nevada, no changes can be made to the ballot after 5 p.m. on the fourth Friday in June of an election year or 'a nominee dies or is adjudicated insane or mentally incompetent.'
If Biden were to withdraw less than 60 days before the election Georgia his name will remain on the ballot but no votes will be counted.
In Texas, the two party's nominees have until the 74th day before the election to withdraw from the ballot. Some states, like South Carolina, do not allow candidates to withdraw for political reasons.
Some states don't have any laws on the books for dealing with a presidential nominee withdrawing, and there is little precedent for such a situation occurring.
Biden, to be clear, has publicly said he has no intentions of withdrawing. But he's long been swamped by speculation on his cognitive decline.
The memo concluded: 'Policymakers and the public should be prepared for all externalities that arise from President Biden not running for President in 2024. The process for substitution and withdrawal presents many election integrity issues.'
'Adherence to the law in some states may result in that process being unsuccessful for the purposes of another candidate being on the ballot.'
During his time at the yearly G-7 economic summit in Italy, Biden was hardly seen in public - and administration officials were quick to push back on a clip of Biden appearing to wander off during a parachute demonstration.
Foreign media reports said Biden appeared 'tired' and to be 'losing focus' at moments. Aides are now worried about the personal toll on Biden of seeing his son Hunter recently convicted of three felonies tied to a 2018 handgun purchase.