So, as I understand with all these comments, they're only candidates if they appear on the ballot on election day? Regardless if they ran and then dropped out?

[–] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That would be correct. The debate and everything up to the DNC has been pure punditry. He was not an official candidate.

[–] Catsrules@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

I am confused if they aren't candidates until they appear on the ballot. Then what do we call them in the meantime?

[–] dmnknf@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Someone said in another comment that Biden dropped before he was officially nominated, so technically, he was more like a candidate to be a candidate if I get it right

[–] samus12345@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

He was a presumptive candidate.

[–] MeowZedong@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 3 months ago

You're confused because they don't know what they're talking about.

Nominees are the candidates selected by their party. Candidates are those who are campaigning for a position. Neither term is conferred by actually appearing on the ballot (a nominee can drop out before the election), but being officially nominated by their party is how they will get on the ballot.

[–] samus12345@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

They are candidates for president when they are nominated by their party. Trump was last week, Biden never was this election cycle.

[–] MeowZedong@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 3 months ago

No. Both were candidates. Only Trump is a nominee.