In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden has tested positive for Covid-19, throwing a wrench into his reelection campaign at a pivotal juncture. The 81-year-old Democratic incumbent, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, was experiencing mild symptoms, including a runny nose and non-productive cough, when the positive test result was announced on Wednesday.
The diagnosis came just hours before Biden was scheduled to speak at the UnidosUS annual conference, a key event aimed at shoring up support among Latino voters, a crucial demographic for the president's campaign. The event was abruptly canceled, with UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía telling attendees that Biden had shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join them.
The sudden illness has placed Biden behind closed doors at a time when Democratic lawmakers have been urging him to take a more prominent role on the campaign trail. The president's aides have repeatedly cited his recent stops as a demonstration of his vigor, but Wednesday's events in Las Vegas have now been disrupted.
According to the White House, Biden has received his first dose of the antiviral drug Paxlovid and will self-isolate at his Delaware residence in line with CDC guidance. The president previously tested positive for Covid-19 in July 2022 and experienced a rebound case in the days after.
The timing of Biden's diagnosis is particularly problematic, as it comes just days before the Republican National Convention, where former President Donald Trump is set to formally accept the GOP nomination. The attempted assassination of Trump earlier this month had temporarily put public calls for Biden to step aside as the party's presumptive nominee on pause, but they have now resurfaced.
California Rep. Adam Schiff, a Senate candidate and former House Intelligence chairman, has become the most prominent elected Democrat to publicly call on the president to drop out of the race, citing concerns about Biden's viability as a candidate in light of his disastrous debate performance last month.
The party remains in flux about the path forward, with fears that Biden's struggles could drag down down-ballot Democrats in November. Despite the president's diagnosis, Vice President Kamala Harris is still set to keep her Thursday campaign event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, as planned.
As Biden isolates, the White House has indicated that he will stay engaged through video calls, similar to his previous experience with the virus. However, the sudden disruption to his campaign schedule has raised questions about the president's ability to maintain momentum and effectively counter Trump's messaging in the crucial weeks leading up to the election.
With the Republican National Convention just around the corner and Biden's health now in the spotlight, the 2024 presidential race has taken an unexpected turn, leaving the Democratic party grappling with a new set of challenges as it seeks to retain the White House.
