Democratic U.S.
senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota suffered what may
have been a stroke Wednesday and was taken to a Washington,
D.C., hospital, his office staff said. If he should be
unable to continue to serve, it could halt the
scheduled Democratic takeover of the Senate.
Democrats won a
51-49 majority in the November election. South
Dakota's governor, who would appoint any temporary
replacement, is a Republican.
Johnson became
disoriented during a call with reporters at midday,
stuttering in response to a question. He appeared to
recover, asking if there were any additional questions
before ending the call.
Johnson
spokeswoman Julianne Fisher said he had walked back to his
Capitol office after the call with reporters but appeared to
not be feeling well. The Capitol physician came to his
office and examined him, and it was decided he needed
to go to the hospital. He was taken by ambulance to
George Washington University Hospital around noon, Fisher
said. ''It was caught very early,'' she said.
Johnson's office
released a statement saying he may have suffered a
stroke. ''At this stage, he is undergoing a comprehensive
evaluation by the stroke team,'' the statement read.
The White House
issued a statement wishing him a speedy recovery. ''Our
thoughts and prayers are with Senator Johnson and his
family,'' said spokesman Alex Conant.
If the two-term
senator, 59, is unable to serve when the 110th Congress
convenes January 4, South Dakota governor Mike Rounds would
appoint a replacement. Johnson is up for reelection in
2008.
South Dakota
secretary of state Chris Nelson said there are no special
restrictions on such an appointment and that a replacement
would not have to be from the same political party.
Johnson turns 60
on December 28. The centrist Democrat was first elected
to the Senate in 1996 and has been one of the more reserved
members of the chamber, rarely taking center stage at
news conferences.
He served in the
House for 10 years from 1987 to 1997. His focus has been
on committee assignments important to his state's
interests--Indian Affairs and Energy and Natural
Resources--as well as a spot on Appropriations.
The latter allows him to direct funds to South Dakota.
Johnson narrowly
defeated Republican John Thune in his 2002 reelection
bid. Thune defeated Democrat Tom Daschle two years later.
Thune issued a statement saying his prayers were with
Johnson and his family. Rounds also issued a statement
saying he was hoping for good news.
Johnson has
worked as a lawyer and county prosecutor and served several
years in the 1970s and 1980s in the South Dakota state
legislature. Both Johnson and his wife have battled
cancer. The senator underwent prostate cancer
treatment in 2004, and subsequent tests have shown him to be
clear of the disease. Barb Johnson is a breast cancer
survivor.
The couple have
two sons and a daughter: Brooks, who served in the U.S.
Army in Bosnia, Kosovo, South Korea, Afghanistan, and Iraq;
Brendan, a Sioux Falls lawyer; and Kelsey, who works
in Washington. In response to one reporter's question
on the Wednesday conference call, Johnson said he was
most looking forward to spending the holidays with his
family and grandchildren. (AP)
