It just occurred to me: McCain CAN'T replace Palin -- it's too late

[Love Bug]

There has been speculation since she was chosen whether or not McCain might replace Palin if she becomes too big a liability for him. It just occurred to me he CAN'T replace her now because early voting has started in some states, including states in contention like Ohio. If he pulled her now, that would probably (depending on individual state laws) invalidate any votes for McCain/Palin that have already been cast. I can't see where he would willingly do that.

He's stuck with her, folks.

[sharp_stick]

1. It would have been political suicide at any time

now we get to watch Palin toss her Presidential candidate under the bus for the next 4 weeks as she prepares to roll out her nutcase express for 2012.

[galaxy21]

2. I think the votes still count

you've voting for the electoral collage, not the people. Or something like that.

[Love Bug]

6. That depends on state law

When Paul Wellstone died two weeks before the election all of the absentee votes for him became invalid because he was technially no longer on the ticket. Even though there was another candidate (Mondale) Minnesota legally could not transfer votes from one person to another.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. It's been too late since the day he picked her.

There is no such thing as taking back your VP nomination once you do it. See: Eagleton, Thomas.

[JohnMcCant2008]

4. It was too late the night of the RNC.

[CampLo]

5. who's talking about this anyway?

she brings more vote to the ticket than mccain.

[Love Bug]

7. There has been some speculation on DU about this

Not a lot lately, but it's been there.

[vaberella]

8. It's political suicide to keep her or get rid of her. He's safer getting rid of her...

Her actions are inciting death threats to a presidential candidate.

[TooRaLoo]

9. No offense, but just now? nt

[Life Long Dem]

10. McSame would be a disaster. He already looks like a disaster.

Even Bush didn't have that. Bush was the guy most would have a beer with. Today I don't think having a beer with Bush would be to sit back and relax talking about fishing or hunting or the weather.

[BzaDem]

11. I thought that this was the case, but it turns out that he can swap out Palin

We don't really vote for president/vice president. We vote for electors who vote in the electoral college. If the ticket changed, they would keep the same electors, so the votes for the McCain-Palin electors would simply be added to the votes of the McCain-someone-else electors.