Stunning news from the US that President Trump (and First Lady) have tested positive for Covid-19. Though given coronavirus stats in America (and fact he has been campaigning almost as normal) perhaps not surprising. Throws an already combustible race into yet more uncertainty.

Presumably no more debates. Presumably Biden to be tested. Electoral implications deeply uncertain. Does he get sympathy from American public? God forbid, things get worse then we truly are in completely unknown territory.

on the politics of the campaign as I say, potential for Trump to receive sympathy from American voters. But clearly reorients race back to Covid and the effect it’s having and Trump’s handling (in this case, of even his own behaviour) which is exactly where Biden wants to be.

October surprise indeed...

Clearly if the President is even incapacitated in some way, we could be looking at the 25th amendment being invoked and Pence becoming Acting President for at least a time, in the days leading up to an election. Or he might have no symptoms. Extraordinary range of possibilities.