Biden’s Positive COVID Test at Crucial Time in Campaign
President Biden has tested positive for COVID. Biden’s positive COVID test is pivotal in the presidential campaign. It forced him to cancel a speaking event that may have reinforced support with Latino voters.
Disruption of UnidosUS Event
Biden’s positive COVID test led to the cancellation of his speaking appointment at the UnidosUS conference. This cancellation was significant since UnidosUS is the nation’s most extensive civil rights and advocacy organization. Consequently, he called off the engagement after finding out about his illness.
“I was just on the phone with President Biden, and he shared his deep disappointment at being unable to join us this afternoon. The president has been at many events, as we all know, and he just tested positive for COVID,” UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murgia told a disappointed crowd waiting an hour and a half for the President to arrive.
What Biden’s Positive COVID Test Means for the Election
Biden’s positive COVID test concerns his supporters. Many have doubted the 81-year-old president’s vigor and called him to step down from the election. He has been demonstrating his energy through several public appearances.
The UnidosUS event was one of his public appearances, and it was pivotal considering its potential to engage Biden with diverse groups. However, his diagnosis forced him to terminate the meeting.
Will Biden Step Down from the Election?
Several Democrats, including those in the Biden administration, have been calling for Biden to step down following his disappointing performance at the Presidential debate. They believe another candidate may be better positioned to win the election and counter Trump’s political campaign.
Senate candidate and former House intelligence chairman Adam Schiff is the most prominent elected Democrat to publicly request that Biden withdraw from the presidential election.
Most reports state that Biden refuses to drop out of the race. However, recent news reveals a possible change in tune.
“The private conversations with the Hill are continuing. He’s being receptive, not as defiant as he is publicly,” a senior Democratic advisor revealed to CNN.
“He’s gone from saying ‘Kamala can’t win’ to ‘Do you think Kamala can win?’ It’s unclear where he’s going to land, but he seems to be listening.
How Biden is Dealing with the Positive Diagnosis
Although it is unclear whether Biden will withdraw from the election, he will continue campaigning through his illness. He plans to do as much as he can remotely to keep his campaign alive.
The president has been actively campaigning up until now. After an active day interviewing and meeting voters at a local supermarket, he began feeling symptoms.
A note from Biden’s doctor provided by White House secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed he had “upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorrhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough with general malaise.
“He felt okay for the first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive,” the note said.
Biden’s positive COVID test was not his first one. He first tested positive for the virus in July 2022. The President has received several vaccine booster shots to increase his immunity.
He has received his first dose of the drug Paxlovid and told Vegas reporters, “I feel good,” as he boarded a plane back to his Delaware residence.
It is unclear where the President contracted the illness.
According to the CDC, COVID-19 cases have increased in America. Statistics show a 23.5% increase in COVID-related emergency visits. There was also high viral activity in wastewater during the first week of July.