The DNC Won't Replace Clinton With Sanders

After a video was released on Sunday showing the former Secretary of State struggling to enter into her vehicle after an appearance at a 9/11 memorial in New York City, questions about her health are dominating the discourse — including questions about whether she'll be the Democratic candidate on the ballot come November. But is the DNC really looking to replace Hillary Clinton on the top of the ticket?

The speculation was set in motion when journalist David Shuster tweeted out a comment from a source that he quoted as being "Dem operatives." In it, he said that his source says to "expect" a DNC meeting to consider nominating a replacement to helm the Democratic ticket for the presidency. It would be unprecedented that a presidential nominee would lose the backing of their party, period. The fact that the election is now less than two months away adds an additional layer of surprise to the statement.

Shuster followed up his tweet with another less than two hours later. The second tweet seemed to indicate that whoever Shuster's source at the DNC is, they think that the party is currently in parts unknown; "uncharted political waters" was the way that they put it. It is unclear if this is coming from the same source, or if it is coming from a different "Dem operative." If the journalist's source is indeed correct, who might end up taking Clinton's place at the top of the ticket?

While supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders are probably feeling excited at the chance for their political hero to take the helm of the Democratic ticket, the chance that the independent senator from Vermont will be asked to take the lead is unlikely. Clinton's team has already started transitioning into leadership roles at the DNC as appointees of President Obama start to filter out of the organization for new challenges. That, coupled with the fact that Sanders has made it clear that he is back to being an independent, makes for a pretty clear case that he won't be asked back by the party.

In the pretty extreme event that Clinton would step aside, Sen. Elizabeth Warren might be the other clear choice to step in and take on the GOP. Warren hasn't been shy about airing her thoughts on the Republican ticket, and while she has some serious progressive cred, Warren has been a strong surrogate for Clinton's campaign after the nomination battle was wrapped up.

The Twitterati have also been dropping Vice President Joe Biden's name into the rumor mill as talk of nudging Clinton from the top of the ticket has gained steam on social media. While it would be unprecedented to replace a major party candidate for president less than two months out from the general, at this point, Biden seems like a safe, conservative choice (and that is surely saying something.)

Whether or not the DNC will lean on Clinton to drop out remains to be seen. But in the meantime, talk about who could, or would, be able to take her place at the top of the ticket is a mystery.