Is Ron Paul the only reason the media is calling McCain the 'presumptive nominee'?

[TER]

? Any thoughts?

[The One]

No, they're calling him the presumptive nominee because he's not the nominee yet. He can't be the nominee until after the convention.

[TER]

I see. But if Ron Paul bowed out, would they still call him that? For example, if Hillary bows out, would they call Obama the presumptive Democratic nominee?

[No1ButPaul08]

I see. But if Ron Paul bowed out, would they still call him that? For example, if Hillary bows out, would they call Obama the presumptive Democratic nominee?

Yes, they are the presumptive nominee until the convention. It has nothing to do with Ron Paul.

[TER]

Thanks guys!

[Bruno]

Wiki

The presumptive nominee in the politics of the United States is a candidate who has not yet received the official nomination of his or her party at the party's nominating convention, but who is an undisputed front-runner who is widely, or even unanimously, presumed to be the political party's candidate. The term is applied widely on the national level, notably in regard to the U.S. presidential nominating conventions and the statewide level.

A candidate may be considered a presumptive nominee after all his or her major competitors have dropped out and it is considered unlikely that the candidate will withdraw, be usurped, or be otherwise removed from the race. Alternatively, in presidential elections, a candidate may be deemed the presumptive nominee after having accumulated enough delegate commitments through the primary elections and caucuses to be assured of the eventual nomination at the convention.

In the U.S. presidential elections, the selection of delegates has been increasingly shifted earlier in the process to produce a presumptive nominee as early as possible, even in the presence of many strong candidates. The rise of Super Tuesday in the 1980s has led to the emergence of a presumptive nominee in both major parties by early March in all recent elections with the possible exception of 2008, when neither of the two leading Democratic candidates (Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama) had secured enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee by early April. Al Gore and George W. Bush were the presumptive nominees of their respective parties after Super Tuesday in 2000, and John Kerry was the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party in 2004.

A sitting President of the United States who is running for re-election will almost invariably be the presumptive nominee from the start of the nominating process unless he or she faces a strong challenger. Recent examples include Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1996. Counter examples in recent history include President Gerald Ford, who faced a challenge from Reagan in 1976; President Jimmy Carter, challenged by Ted Kennedy in 1980, and President George H. W. Bush, challenged by Pat Buchanan in 1992.

[acptulsa]

You know, that is an interesting question. I don't remember the term 'presumptive nominee' ever being used so much before. I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is a nod to us. Probably more out of fear of email bombs than out of respect, but a nod to us nonetheless. It really does seem like, in years past, they would call the presumptive nominee 'the nominee' out of hand...

[Bobby Johnson]

You know, that is an interesting question. I don't remember the term 'presumptive nominee' ever being used so much before. I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is a nod to us. Probably more out of fear of email bombs than out of respect, but a nod to us nonetheless. It really does seem like, in years past, they would call the presumptive nominee 'the nominee' out of hand...

I don't remember that phrase being used so much in past elections either. While it seems John McCain IS the Republican presidential candidate by all the MSM coverage, I don't see any reason for me to be discouraged. They have even acknowledged he does not have a lock on the nomination until the national convention. It should be an interesting time at the convention.

By the way, I live in Indiana and our primary is just a couple of weeks away. I am seeing more and more Ron Paul yard signs, bumper stickers, and 4X8 signs as I drive around. One farm had three of the large signs arranged in a triangle off of I-70. The campaign is not over for me!:D

[robskicks]

Yea, I think it has something to do with it.

[kigol]

Wiki

The presumptive nominee in the politics of the United States is a candidate who has not yet received the official nomination of his or her party at the party's nominating convention, but who is an undisputed front-runner who is widely, or even unanimously, presumed to be the political party's candidate. The term is applied widely on the national level, notably in regard to the U.S. presidential nominating conventions and the statewide level.

A candidate may be considered a presumptive nominee after all his or her major competitors have dropped out and it is considered unlikely that the candidate will withdraw, be usurped, or be otherwise removed from the race. Alternatively, in presidential elections, a candidate may be deemed the presumptive nominee after having accumulated enough delegate commitments through the primary elections and caucuses to be assured of the eventual nomination at the convention.

In the U.S. presidential elections, the selection of delegates has been increasingly shifted earlier in the process to produce a presumptive nominee as early as possible, even in the presence of many strong candidates. The rise of Super Tuesday in the 1980s has led to the emergence of a presumptive nominee in both major parties by early March in all recent elections with the possible exception of 2008, when neither of the two leading Democratic candidates (Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama) had secured enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee by early April. Al Gore and George W. Bush were the presumptive nominees of their respective parties after Super Tuesday in 2000, and John Kerry was the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party in 2004.

A sitting President of the United States who is running for re-election will almost invariably be the presumptive nominee from the start of the nominating process unless he or she faces a strong challenger. Recent examples include Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1996. Counter examples in recent history include President Gerald Ford, who faced a challenge from Reagan in 1976; President Jimmy Carter, challenged by Ted Kennedy in 1980, and President George H. W. Bush, challenged by Pat Buchanan in 1992.

good post

[Gadsden Flag]

In most elections, the nomination is over after super tuesday. So this is really no different.