Presidential campaigner pass millions of dollars and months — even years — rallying support for a nomination from their various parties . At stake is the high political office staff in the country .

But what if someone realizes they ’re not into it anymore and settle , at a very late date , to deteriorate out of the slipstream ?

The interrogation has been mobilize in media following the highly - publicized indiscretions of the two major - political party presidential nominee . Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was under investigation by the FBI for using a private email address for classified authorities stage business ; Republican candidate Donald Trump has come under fire for controversial remarks about everything from newscasters to Muslims . If either elected to drop out of the airstream , it would have a cataclysm within their respective party .

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For Republicans , a hypothetical disappearance of Trump for reasons not due to wellness would have them looking atRule 9of the Republican National Committee policy . If a vacuum opened up , the GOP would have an chance to reconvene for a 2nd conventionality or have the party name a new campaigner . House Speakers , runners - up , or prospective vice presidents could all conceivably have a shooting at the undecided slot , but the party is free to opt anyone and the commonwealth would keep back thesame numberof delegates they had during the convention .

Similarly , the Democratic Party ’s bylaws specify that a special meeting would be called by its chairwoman to line up a proper replacement . In both typesetter’s case , the parties would hope the campaigner would announce his or her intention no later than September in purchase order to incur a suitable replacement . If they did n’t , it’spossibleCongress could take the unprecedented step of pushing back Election Day .

To date , no campaigner from a major political party has withdrawn or perished prior to the election . The faithful historical parallel isJames Sherman , William Taft ’s vice chairperson and repeat running spouse when Taft was seeking reelection . In 1912 , Sherman died from kidney disease just six days before the ecumenical election . His name remained on the ticket , and the Republican Party settle to   await   until the election was over to tack together and enter a new frailty president .

It was merely a formality , as Democrat Woodrow Wilson won the election . But it did have the curious force of receive voters submitting ballot for an functionary who had no chance at all of living up to his hunting expedition hope , as Sherman was deceased .