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Ailing Democrat improves as US Senate hangs in the balance
2006-12-18
A Democratic senator is continuing to recover following emergency brain surgery last week, a party leader said, as the Democrats' newly-won control of Congress remained at stake. Incoming Senate Majority Harry Reid told ABC television that ailing Senator Tim Johnson is faring "well" following last week's sudden brain hemorrhage that threatened to leave Republicans dominant in the closely divided Senate. "He's doing very well. I have been with him every day, will continue to be with him when I can," Reid said, suggesting that the worst danger is over. "I don't think I need to go every day now. His improvement has been significant," Reid said. "He's going to be just fine." Johnson, who turns 60 next week, was admitted to George Washington University Hospital on Wednesday after his speech faltered during a teleconference. He was diagnosed with bleeding in the brain from an inherited malformation. Early Thursday Johnson underwent emergency brain surgery at the hospital and reportedly remains in critical condition in an intensive care unit. The illness of the senator from South Dakota, a sparsely populated western state that rarely draws national interest, highlighted the fragile nature of Democrats' nascent control of the Senate. It comes just weeks before Congress is to convene in January with Democrats newly dominant in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The opposition party wrested control of both bodies from President George W. Bush's Republicans in the November 7 legislative elections. But they hold only a 51 to 49 margin over the Republicans. If Johnson's illness forced him to vacate the seat, the Republican governor of South Dakota would choose the replacement to serve the remaining two years of a six-year term. The choice of a Republican replacement would leave each party with 50 seats, and Republican Vice President Dick Cheney would wield the tie-breaking vote. Then Democrats will control only the House, with 233 of its 435 seats, and be in a position to oppose the Bush administration, mainly through investigations, especially on the conduct of the war in Iraq.
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