Tested positive for COVID-19, Biden says he is “fine,” but concerns persist

Photo: Susan Walsh Associated Press This is the first time Mr. Biden has opened the door to the idea of ​​abandoning his campaign.

Paula Ramon – Agence France-Presse and Danny Kemp – Agence France-Presse in Las Vegas and Washington respectively

Posted at 6:27 p.m. Updated at 9:12 p.m.

• United States

Testing positive for COVID-19, US President Joe Biden assured Wednesday that he was “fine”, but this new announcement risks fueling concerns about his age and health which have already sparked calls for him to withdraws from the race for the White House.

Assailed by questions about his mental acuity, the 81-year-old Democrat earlier said he would reevaluate his candidacy if he was diagnosed with a serious medical problem.

The White House said in a statement that the president was “fully vaccinated” and would “continue to exercise his full capacity.” his duties” during his period of confinement, which came while he was campaigning to appeal to Hispanic voters in Nevada.

Asked Tuesday by the media BET what could make him think about throwing in the towel, the president-candidate replied: “If I had a medical problem that appeared, if someone, doctors came to see me and told me “you have such a problem.”

This is the first time Mr. Biden has opened the door to the idea of ​​abandoning his campaign.

The announcement of his COVID-19 infection comes at a time when Joe Biden is playing for his political survival since his disastrous performance at the end of June during his debate with Donald Trump, which sparked a wave of questions about his physical and mental abilities.

According to ABC News, the powerful leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, threw his weight into the balance for Joe Biden to throw in the towel.

“Schumer vigorously argued that it would be better for Biden, for the Democratic Party, and for the country if he withdraw,” reported a journalist from the channel.

The Democratic bigwig's team didn't really deny it, simply pointing out that “unless ABC's source is Senator Chuck Schumer or President Joe Biden,” this information was “pure speculation.”

Fear of a Trump victory

Earlier Wednesday, another heavyweight of the Democratic Party had revived calls for his withdrawal from the race for the White House.

California lawmaker Adam Schiff urged Mr. Biden to “ passing the torch,” saying he doubts the head of state can beat Donald Trump in November.

Mr. Schiff thus became the highest-ranking elected Democrat to publicly make this request after the debate.

He is also the first to relaunch this call since the attempted The assassination against Donald Trump during a campaign event on Saturday gave the president a brief reprieve.

Joe Biden “was one of the most important presidents in our country’s history,” Schiff said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “But our nation is at a crossroads,” he added.

“A second Trump presidency would undermine the very foundations of our democracy, and I “I have serious concerns about the president's ability to defeat Donald Trump in November,” he added.

About twenty House lawmakers and one senator have so far urged Joe Biden to throw in the towel.

Accelerate the nomination

< p>In this context of tensions, Democratic Party officials announced on Wednesday their desire to accelerate the nomination process of Mr. Biden with an early voting system whose modalities remain to be defined, to the great displeasure of those who hope to see him go ahead. withdraw from the race.

The system would allow voting during the first week of August rather than waiting for the Democratic convention which begins in Chicago on August 19, and when of which the candidate must officially be nominated for the presidential election on November 5 against Donald Trump.

Some Democrats strongly criticized this project, judging that it was a 'a way of pushing through Joe Biden's candidacy despite doubts about his ability and without discussion of possible alternatives.

Elected officials plan to sign a letter to denounce him.

Vice President Kamala Harris is seen as the favorite if Mr. Biden steps down.

Democratic officials estimate that the operation should be effective before August 7, the deadline set by the State of Ohio for submitting candidate nominations.

M . Biden says Democratic voters support him, but according to a latest poll, nearly two-thirds want the president to throw in the towel.