The Democratic presidential nominee will participate in the next debate as scheduled, according to senior campaign adviser Symone Sanders.
In an interview with CNN host Jake Tapper on State of the Union, Sanders said Biden is “looking forward” to the next presidential debate scheduled for Oct. 15 in Miami, Florida, and hopes President Trump will feel well enough to participate.
“We are looking forward to the debate on Oct. 15 in Miami,” Sanders said. “It’s a town hall and, as you know, Vice President Biden loves a good town hall. And we are hoping President Trump can participate. We’re hoping that he’s medically able to participate, and that is up to his doctors to clear him. But Joe Biden will be at that debate.”
The Biden campaign’s promise to attend the next debate throws the future of the debate schedule into Trump’s hands as questions continue to be raised over his present state of health following his coronavirus diagnosis. Dr. Sean Conley, the White House physician, said the president has made “substantial progress since diagnosis” in a statement on Saturday night.
“This evening, he completed his second dose of remdesivir without complication,” Conley wrote. “He remains fever-free and off supplemental oxygen with a saturation level between 96% and 98% all day. He spent most of the afternoon conducting business and has been up and moving about the medical suite without difficulty. While not yet out of the woods, the team remains cautiously optimistic.”
Three debates are scheduled to take place before the Nov. 3 election, including the vice presidential debate between current Vice President Mike Pence and California Sen. Kamala Harris on Oct. 7. C-SPAN’s Steve Scully is scheduled to moderate the presidential debate in South Florida.
