What would happen if a US presidential nominee died before the election? ?

Article 2, Section 1of the Democratic National Committee Bylaws states:

The Democratic National Committee shall have general responsibility

for the affairs of the Democratic Party between National Conventions, subject to the provisions of the Charter and to the resolutions or other official actions of the National Convention. This responsibility shall

include, but not be limited to:

(c) Filling vacancies in the nominations for the office

So, the DNC is free to pick whomever they want.

As for who they would select, I'd find it very unlikely that Biden would be selected. He received almost no support in his own bid for President, and was selected to "round out" Obama. There's no reason in general to give it to the person who came in second, but in this case, where Hillary was so close, and had such strong support, I think she'd be the logical choice.

The other option is similar to what happened in the 2002 Minnesota Senatorial race. Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash shortly before the election. The Minnesota Democratic Party selected former Vice President (and former Minnesota Senator) Walter Mondale to take his place as the nominee.

Under that sort of scenario, you could see the DNC selecting someone like Al Gore who has the name recognition to step in at the last minute.

That's a good question. I don't know whether it would go to say Joe Biden or Hillary, or Romney or who ever the VP candidate will be. The party would probably go into the old "smoke filled rooms"- although I'm sure it would really be a smoke-free area,- but anyway the political party would decide like they did before the primaries, most likely. I would think possibly the 2nd runner up, Hillary Clinton or Mitt Romney would be chosen though.

In 1968, Bobby Kennedy was the front runner for the Democratic nomination when he was killed. The VP, Hubert Humphrey was chosen as candidate at the convention a few weeks later. I do not remember if Humphrey had even been in the race before that. But that was when the primary system was in it's infancy and really was not the deciding factor, the convention was.

In 2000 or 2004, the governor of Missouri, Mel Carnahan, who was running for the U.S. Senate was killed in a plane crash about 2 or 3 weeks before the election. His name stayed on the ballot. He won. After a few weeks, his wife Jean was picked to fill his seat. I doubt if Michelle Obama or Cindy McCain would take over, however. Although I can see Michelle with a possible future of her own someday.

I asked a friend who's been on the state Democratic committee about this, he said the national committee would hold a meeting and decide on a new nominee, I imagine it would be about the same for the Republicans. I hope to God nothing happens to any of the nominees.

The Vice President would become president until the election, and the party that lose there nominee would have to restart the delegation process.

After the nomination, if a nominee dies, the National Committee of that party chooses the new nominee

The Democratic National Committee/Republican National Committee would decide internally who to place on the ticket. It would probably be the running mate and someone else the committee chooses.

If McCain dies, not much; there's a bunch of other priveleged white guys ready to step up. If Obama dies, and especially if it's assasination, I can guarentee you this country will descend into absolute chaos. I will join millions in getting armed and preparing to fight down the white suprececists and nazis who are hiding out everywhere in plain sight.

It will not be a pretty thing and many people will get hurt.

But I will give up everything else I am doing and fight this monster down.

The VP gets it.

i feel like Joe Biden will set up barack or this country will get him killed im sorry to say that

AHHHHHH ! THE SMELL OF DESPERATION FROM THE REPUBLICAN NAYSAYERS .LOL

NO WAY NO HOW NO MCCAIN