His vice president elect..it would have to be..they won a two year long battle.......jeeze imagine Joe Biden president.. sure hope obama last four years...dont like him much but at least he can talk without sticking his foot in his mouth

The Vice President elect

4 letters: Biden

Even if Obama were to die before Dec. 20th? That's when the electoral college meets I believe. Until then Obama isn't even technically the President elect is he?

If Barack Obama were to die before taking the oath of office, most people assume that JOE BIDEN would automatically become the new president-elect. However, the Electoral College electors are NOT legally bound to vote for Biden, even if he IS the vice-president-elect, and theoretically, they COULD vote for whoever they want. So, if the president-elect (Obama) is dead, they could even cast their votes for JOHN McCAIN, if they so wished! However, this most likely would not happen, as it would thwart the will of the people, who overwhelmingly voted for a Democratic candidate. Thus, the electors would more than likely cast their votes for Biden, and thus he would be sworn in as the next President on January 20th. If both Obama AND Biden were to die BEFORE the Electoral College meets, the Democratic National Committee would meet and select and a new candidate (probably HILLARY CLINTON), and once again, the Electoral College electors would most likely cast their votes for her, as this would reflect the will of the people, who desire a Democratic President. Thus, Hillary Clinton would become the next President of the United States when Bush's term expires!! However, If Obama and Biden die AFTER the Electoral College meets, and before being sworn in, then NANCY PELOSI (the Speaker of the House) would become President when Bush's term expires...but ONLY until Congress meets and figures out what the heck to do with this mess, and a NEW president-elect is selected!!

The top answer is pretty much on the money. The only difference is that the Electoral college does not have to vote Biden. The Electoral college is equal to the number of senators and representatives + Washington D.C. Each elector casts their Electoral vote as per the citizens vote for each state. Therefore, if president elect dies it still goes to the Electoral College, (elector appointed). They could cast their vote for anyone eligible to be President of the United States. In theory they could vote for themselves. They could vote Biden, Clinton, or assume that McCain become President based on the only other candidate to receive an electoral vote. If it could not be resolved it would become the House of Representatives priority to vote for our next president of the United states. If on Inauguration day no president is appointed, the vice-president elect becomes acting president until the House appoints/votes for President.

There are two qualifications to this. 1st one is the easiest. If the winner dies after the electors meet (12/15/08 this time), then yes the VP-Elect actually does ascend to the status of President elect. Remember the Electoral College actually chooses the president, once they meet and there vote is certified, that is binding. The votes are sealed and opened before a joint session of congress two weeks prior to inauguration. In this scenario the winning candidate and his v.p. running mate would have been certified at the meeting of the electoral college. Thus, if the winner dies between that meeting and the joint session of congress it would the VP-Elect announced as President-Elect at that joint session. 2nd, this one is tricky. If the winner of the election dies and the electors haven't meet (12/15/08 this time) almost all electors can choose anyone else, anyone. Likely the electors would look to the party leadership for guidance on choosing someone. It’s my hope that in that scenario they would go with the VP-Elect. That way, there might at least be a chance of maintaining their party majority, but again they can choose anyone. And some states require the electors vote for the name on the ballot. This could lead to the losing candidate winning the presidency. Because the Constitution says the House of Representatives would have to pick the President from among the top three vote getters if no one has a clear majority. If the electors from the winning party can’t come together and choose a candidate their votes could fracture amongst several candidates and allow the House to decide. If the other party controls the House they could select their candidate as president. Scenario: Obama won 365, McCain won 173, 270 needed for majority. If Obama died before 12/15. McCain – 173 electoral Biden – 170 electoral Clinton – 120 electoral (electors who change) Richardson – 75 electoral (electors who change) If Republicans controlled the House they could choose McCain with a simple majority. In the election of 1872, Democratic candidate Horace Greeley did in fact die before the meeting of the Electoral College. The electors who were to have voted for Greeley split their votes across several candidates, including three votes cast for the deceased Greeley. However, President Ulysses S. Grant, had already won an absolute majority of electors. Because it was the death of a losing candidate, there was no pressure to agree on a replacement candidate.