What if the candidates die post-primary, pre-election?

[nini2287]

Say, for example, during the third Presidential debate in 2004 at Washington University in St. Louis, the New Madrid fault line goes off and a massive earthquake strikes Missouri, destroying the building where the debate was held.  Bush, Cheney, Kerry and Edwards are all instantly killed.

How would the parties choose replacement nominees for President and Vice-President?

[NewFederalist]

Very much the same way as Sargent Shriver replaced Thomas Eagleton as the VP nominee in 1972. The respective national committees decide.

[nini2287]

How are the National Committees chosen?  Are they pretty much smoke-filled back rooms?

[Nym90]

In many states it would've already been too late to get the candidates off the ballot legally, but the Electoral College obviously would remedy that, as the electors would vote for the replacement candidates rather than those on the ballot.

[NewFederalist]

How are the National Committees chosen? 

National Committee members are selected by the delegates to either the state or national convention depending on party rules.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Say, for example, during the third Presidential debate in 2004 at Washington University in St. Louis, the New Madrid fault line goes off and a massive earthquake strikes Missouri, destroying the building where the debate was held.  Bush, Cheney, Kerry and Edwards are all instantly killed.

How would the parties choose replacement nominees for President and Vice-President?

The Natn'l Committe would decide--probably the VP cand., but not necessarily.  Did you get your scenario from It Could Happen Tomorrow on the Weather Channel, b/c that was just on?

[nini2287]

Say, for example, during the third Presidential debate in 2004 at Washington University in St. Louis, the New Madrid fault line goes off and a massive earthquake strikes Missouri, destroying the building where the debate was held.  Bush, Cheney, Kerry and Edwards are all instantly killed.

How would the parties choose replacement nominees for President and Vice-President?

The Natn'l Committe would decide--probably the VP cand., but not necessarily.  Did you get your scenario from It Could Happen Tomorrow on the Weather Channel, b/c that was just on?

Was it really?  I had just happened to talking about earthquakes a few days ago with my manager at work (he might have watched).

I remember I read in 1997 (I believe) that there was a 60% chance that there would be a major New Madrid earthquake in the following 20 years.

[True Democrat]

In 1912, Vice President Sherman died a few days before the election, and the Republican National Committee replaced him with Nicholas M. Butler.

[J. J.]

In the PA GOP, the national committee members (Man and Woman) are chosen by the State Committee, whose members are elected in primaries limited to Republican voters.  Also, the County Chairman of each county is an ex officio member.  The county chairman is usually elected by the precinct committee people, though in Somerset County, the chair is also directly elected (at least as of the early 1990's).

[°Leprechaun]

Ballot status doesn't technically matter in states that allow write ins.
Most, if not all, states do.