From “100 percent certain” to “possible re-evaluation”: How Joe Biden is less confident about his candidacy

“I don’t think the covid infection will be the deciding factor in stopping.” This is what VRT journalist and American expert Bert de Vroy says. “In a ‘medical condition,’ Biden is more likely to be referring to something more serious. If doctors — since Biden has already been sick several times — determine a weakened immune system, this could already have other consequences.”

If Biden is in isolation because of his coronavirus infection, it could be a moment of reflection for the president. “In that case, he is not allowed to attend campaign events and has to isolate himself for some time. It may be a moment to think carefully about the future of his campaign and his party.”

But it can go the other way. “Critics cannot meet the president during isolation, while a personal conversation is the best way to convince someone,” de Vroy says. “You can make phone calls or zoom in, but it doesn’t have the same effect. So it’s possible that Biden ends up in a bubble of motivation because he can isolate himself from criticism at that point.

“Be that as it may, it’s hard to say whether this will be a real turning point for the Biden campaign. We won’t know the answer to that for a few weeks.”