In a potential setback for President Joe Biden's re-election campaign, Ohio's GOP-led state legislature could leave him off the ballot in the upcoming November election, according to the Ohio secretary of state's office. The state has set a ballot deadline of August 7th to certify presidential candidates, which is nearly two weeks before the Democratic National Convention where Biden is expected to be officially nominated.

Ohio's chief legal counsel, Paul DiSantis, sent a letter to the state Democratic Party Chair, Liz Walters, outlining the requirement for candidates to be certified 90 days before the general election, scheduled for November 5th this year. Given that the convention is scheduled to take place on August 19th, it leaves a narrow window for compliance with Ohio law.

"Therefore, pending further clarification, I am left to conclude that the Democratic National Committee must either move up its nominating convention or the Ohio General Assembly must act by May 9th, 90 days prior to the new law's effective date, to create an exception to this statutory requirement," wrote DiSantis.

The Biden campaign, however, has expressed confidence that the statute will not prevent the president from appearing on the Ohio ballot. In a statement, they said, "We're monitoring the situation in Ohio, and we're confident that Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states."

This is not the first time a similar situation has arisen in Ohio. Prior to the 2020 presidential election, both the Republican and Democratic conventions were scheduled outside the deadline window, leading Ohio lawmakers to approve a temporary change, reducing the cutoff to 60 days for that election only.

As the Ohio Democratic Party reviews the letter, the question of whether an exception will be made for President Biden remains uncertain. The outcome could have significant implications for the state, as Ohio played a pivotal role in Trump's victories in 2016 and 2020, becoming the first state to support a losing presidential candidate since 1960.

Ohio's ballot deadline predicament highlights the challenges faced by candidates and election officials as they navigate the complexities of scheduling during the nomination process. The fate of President Biden appearing on the Ohio ballot in November will depend on whether the Democratic Party can find a resolution that complies with the state's requirement or if the Ohio General Assembly moves to create an exception ahead of the May 9th deadline.