@JRHorsting Biden *is* the problem because he is no longer the solution. We need someone who can energize the electorate, get out the vote in the middle, and make a clear and compelling case for why Trump is an existential threat.
Biden was that man in 2020. He is no longer that man in 2024.
@MoiraEve @JRHorsting You're damn right I would.
@LouisIngenthron OK, you’re one of the few men I’ve asked on social to say they would. Any other candidate would need to raise $1 Billion to fund a write-in campaign. I find that very unlikely. @JRHorsting
@MoiraEve My understanding is that the whole "write-in" thing isn't really true. There's very little stopping us, logistically, from switching candidates for the ballots.
The warchest possibly being "lost" is true, though it could still just be shifted into PACs that support the candidate just as much, so it's also not the end of the world.
@LouisIngenthron PACs allow a max contribution of under $50,000. Biden has $92 Million. And in about a minute the deadline for state ballots to be printed will have passed.
Actually, if you look at the list for "Independent candidates" (because for party candidates the deadlines were long long ago in most states in 2023 via the primary process)
in a number of states the deadlines have already passed in Juni to get ballot access.
https://ballotpedia.org/Deadline_to_run_for_president,_2024
E.g.
NM 6/27/2024
NY 5/28/24
NC 3/5/24
NY requires even filing to be counted as a write-in.
@yacc143 Thank you for this additional information, Andreas! @LouisIngenthron
@yacc143 @MoiraEve Just to address the first of your examples... the relevant New Mexico law is included below. In short, they can be replaced by the party as soon as 70 days before the election.
As I understand it, most states have provisions like this.
The people who are telling you otherwise aren't telling the full truth.
@LouisIngenthron @MoiraEve Presidency != general election.
The website has different page, with different dates for general state elections and Congress members.
@yacc143 @MoiraEve In case it was unclear, my screenshot above is from New Mexico's official website hosting its laws, not Ballotpedia. I prefer to get my information from the original source.
And if you think the president doesn't get elected through a "general election" then you'll need to cite the bit of NM law that says that.
@LouisIngenthron @MoiraEve Does the President get not elected at all?
The state's electors for the Electoral collegium get elected.
The elections of the US President is a highly f%cked up and complicated procedure, it was that already by the 18th century's standard, and it has not got easier.
You might have noticed that there a 50 different subtly different rulesets.
Comparing it with some general election in a simple country is ingenious. If you must, compare it with the EU elections.
@MoiraEve @LouisIngenthron@qoto.org @JRHorsting
He is a poser
@LouisIngenthron @JRHorsting
Sure, and you realize that changing the candidate 119 days before the election is basically self-sabotage.
The deadline for state ballots is passing in a couple of days. (Which makes sense, mail ballots need to be printed, mailed, and returned from odd places, e.g. Navy ships on duty cycles)
A new candidate (beyond Harris, which is for many a little bit too female, and a little bit too dark, yeah, it's the good old USA) would also need to fund-raise.
@yacc143 @JRHorsting Many countries have their entire elections in the span of a month. I find it very hard to believe that we can't pick a new candidate in America 4 months out.
Plus, as I understand it, in most states, a vote for the party is a vote for whoever their candidate is, even if they aren't specifically printed on the ballot (like if the guy dies before the election).
@LouisIngenthron @JRHorsting
Ah, in Austria the minimum is a couple of months.
And still, it's not the “candidates” who campaign, it's the parties. And they don't have generally to fundraise:
a) they get most of their money from the state via party financing.
b) there are upper limits on campaign spending (although especially our conservatives like to pay fines for overspending).
@LouisIngenthron @JRHorsting
Last but not least compare to the USA, where even lowly Congressmen on average spend a year of their 2 year term with fund raising and not politics, to get reelected. And compared to a Presidential campaign, Congressman is a cheap hobby.
@LouisIngenthron Will you vote for Kamala Harris? She is the only other person on the ticket w/ claims to the money. @JRHorsting