I don't want this to be offensive or anything, but what would happen if, in the week(s) leading up to the election one of the candidates were to die. No, I am not contemplating an assasination attempt nor endorsing one. Just curious. Would the election have to be postponed? Would the VP candidate inherit the nomination?

I don't see any circumstances under which the election would be postponed.

I think it would be up to the political parties who would be the candidate - the VP candidate or someone else. The VP only officially takes over when they are already in office and the president can not fulfill his duties.

So if something happened to Bush today, Cheney would become President, but I don't think that automatically means he becomes the presidential candidate - the party is the "body" that nominates a presidential candidate, not the Constitution.

George, the answer depends on the timing. I know that if the candidate dies after the electoral votes are counted, then the Vice-President elect would become President on inauguration day. I found this site from The University of Wisconsin which highlights some of the other possibilities under heading 3.

Interesting article BPT. Thanks for posting it. Answered some of the questions I was thinking about.