Former Vice President Joe Biden just got some bad news about his health — and the news could negatively impact the whole Democratic Party.
The 75-year-old Biden remains popular with Democrats, and was planning to hit the campaign trail begin rallying support for a so-called “2018 blue wave” on Thursday.
Those plans were suddenly cancelled this week, though. Biden has become far too sick for politics, insiders say, and the Delaware resident is under strict doctors orders not to travel.
“Everyone who knows Vice President Biden knows that he gives our party and our country his all, but unfortunately he is sick and is under doctor’s orders not to travel,” Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association President Doug House said in a statement, published by CapitolFax.com on Thursday.
Biden was set to appear as the key note speaker at the Illinois State Fair’s Democrat Day, a campaign event being held on behalf of Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker.
“The cancellation is of course disappointing, but it is clear that the circumstances are simply unavoidable. We all hope he gets well soon and I’m sure he’ll be back campaigning for Democrats in Illinois and across the country in no time,” House said
The cancellation is a serious blow to the Illinois Democrats, as well as anyone Biden was planning to help heading into the critical 2018 midterm elections.
Toby Trimmer, spokesman for the Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association, said thousands of tickets had been sold for $50 a piece to see Biden.
“Trimmer said the configuration on the hotel’s main floor ballroom has already been planned for 2,500 people, and tickets for that room sold out in a week after it was announced in June,” according to The State-Journal Register. “But because of demand, there is room for another 700 people on the hotel’s second floor. There will be ‘less-formal programming’ there, Trimmer said, but speakers including Biden are expected to be there.”
No word on if the Democrats were planning to refund disappointed attendees.
A spokesman for Biden has refused to comment on what it ailing the former vice president, and would only insist Biden was fine.
— The Horn editorial team