OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Vice President Kamala Harris has had to briefly up this week as President Joe Biden temporarily became incapacitated as he underwent a medical procedure, reports said.
According to White House physician Kevin O’Connor, D.O., Biden had a root canal on Monday and needed an extra day to recover, so Harris attended an event on Monday that he was supposed to go to celebrating college athletes.
O’Connor, in a memo, said that the dental procedure took place on Sunday. CBS News’ Ed O’Keefe obtained and posted a copy of the vague memo: “JUST IN: After experiencing “dental pain” on Sunday, @POTUS Biden is having a root canal at the White House today. No word yet on other details of the procedure.”
JUST IN: After experiencing “dental pain” on Sunday, @POTUS Biden is having a root canal at the White House today. No word yet on other details of the procedure. pic.twitter.com/Bl0KKRdDEK
— Ed O’Keefe (@edokeefe) June 12, 2023
“11 June, 2023, the President identified that he was experiencing some dental pain in his lower right premolar,” O’Connor wrote.
He added: “Our Presidential Dental Team from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was able to perform an examination, to include x-rays, in the White House Dental Operatory. They determined that endodontic treatment (root canal) was most appropriate. Initial root canal procedure was performed at the time, with a plan for specialized endodontal follow up in the near future.”
Biden “tolerated the procedure well,” the physician noted further.
“There were no complications. He is experiencing further discomfort this morning, which was anticipated. The endodontic specialty team from Walter Reed will complete the President’s root canal today, at the White House,” he noted.
As a result of Biden needing the procedure, Harris and second husband Doug Emhoff attended College Athlete Day at the White House where she addressed about 1,000 male and female student-athletes from three divisions.
“We have 47 teams representing 19 sports and all three NCAA divisions…You are leaders, you are role models and, of course, you are champions.
Vice Pres. Harris hosts more than 1,000 student athletes for “first of its kind” White House celebration. https://t.co/DiiPe5hY3U pic.twitter.com/5AmRw6Zfxi
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) June 12, 2023
O’Keefe later reported that the 25th Amendment was not invoked temporarily because Biden’s dental team used a local anesthetic.
Biden’s age has been an issue ever since he became the oldest president in the country’s history. Should he win reelection, he will be 82 on Inauguration Day.
That could be what is feeding former President Donald Trump’s poll numbers somewhat. An early May survey by ABC News/Washington Post showed former Trump with a whopping 7-point lead over Biden, Mediaite reported.
“According to the survey, the president trails his predecessor by 7 points in a hypothetical 2024 general election matchup. Respondents were asked whether they would ‘definitely’ vote for Trump or Biden, ‘probably’ vote for Trump or Biden, or vote for someone else or not vote at all. Among those who ‘definitely’ prefer one candidate over the other, Trump leads Biden 36-32. But when those ‘probably’ voting are added to the tally, Trump’s margin balloons to 7 points — as he holds a 45-38 advantage over Biden,” the report said.
“The poll found Biden would fare only slightly better if the Republican nominee were Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). The president is tied with DeSantis 32-32 among those ‘definitely’ backing a particular candidate. But when the ‘probably’ category is added, DeSantis pulls ahead 42-37,” Mediaite continued.
“President Biden’s approval numbers, according to the new ABC/Washington Post poll, are nothing short of dismal. Only 36 percent of voters approve of the job the president is doing, compared to 56 percent who do not. The approval number is down 6 points from February, the last time ABC and the Washington Post released a poll, and represents an all-time low for him in that particular survey,” the outlet added.
