

He has to acknowledge that his behavior made some women uncomfortable.’’

Cardona said that while Biden’s behavior is not automatically disqualifying for the presidency, ‘‘it all depends on how he continues to respond to this.

‘‘It looks different in 2019,’’ said Maria Cardona, a Democratic strategist. In a moment of national reckoning over sexual harassment and the treatment of women by powerful men, some Democrats said Biden’s actions have taken on a new light. The episode, recounted by Democrat Lucy Flores, highlighted an aspect of Biden’s persona that has been publicly known for years: the affectionate whispers, hugs and shoulder squeezes he has long doled out to women, often on camera and at high-profile public events.
