As Biden team suggests there can be no alternative, DNC rules provide a path

WASHINGTON — As President Joe Biden's campaign tries to calm nervous Democrats, the Democratic National Committee is circulating talking points that misleadingly suggest there is no procedural means of replacing the president at the top of the party's ticket.

"Joe Biden will be the Democratic Party's nominee for president," the talking points read, according to a copy provided by a source who received them. "Any other discussion is a distraction and 'brokered' conventions are a thing of the past."

They go on to say that "the only person eligible for nomination is Joe Biden."

Biden has been firm in saying that he will stay in the race, and the "DNC Talking Points for Convention Nomination Rules" that are being circulated within the party are mostly accurate — up until the party's August convention ends.

But as the party’s rules stand now, according to three people who are familiar with them and the DNC’s 2022 document outlining procedures for the convention, there is a process for replacing Biden if he voluntarily chooses to step aside after the Aug. 22 conclusion of the convention. His nomination is expected to occur before that, in a virtual roll call of state delegations in late July or early August. A date for that is expected to be set by the convention's rules committee at a July 19 meeting.

The Biden campaign wants everyone to think “chaos would reign” if the president stepped aside, said one person familiar with the DNC process. “Thats why they’re not admitting there’s a rule.”

“The primary is over, and in every state the will of Democratic voters was clear: Joe Biden will be the Democratic Party’s nominee for President. Delegates are pledged to reflect voters’ sentiment, and over 99% of delegates are already