U.S. Sen. Johnson in hospital after possible stroke

South Dakota Senator Hospitalized
Hospital: Democrat Tim Johnson Did Not Have Stroke, Heart Attack; Senate Control Could Go To GOP

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2006
Tim JohnsonSen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D. was hospitalized in Washington with an undisclosed illness. (CBS/AP)

(CBS/AP) Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota was hospitalized Wednesday, weeks before his party is to take control of the Senate by a one-vote margin.

Johnson, who turns 60 on Dec. 28, was admitted to George Washington University Hospital with an undiagnosed illness, said a spokeswoman, Julianne Fisher. However, she said the senator did not suffer a stroke or heart attack. His office had said earlier Johnson may have had a stroke.

Sources close to the situation tell CBS News the situation is definitely not good.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he doesn’t plan to put out another statement on Johnson’s condition tonight.

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.

Reid called Johnson "a dear friend."

"Every member of the United States Senate sends our best to him and to his family at this difficult time, and we wish him a full recovery," Reid said.

But Johnson's condition could determine control of the Senate, CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger reports.

Should Johnson 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 state law says that the governor can appoint a replacement when there is a "vacancy," but Secretary of State Chris Nelson tells CBS News political producer Steve Chaggaris that it's unclear whether a seat held by an incapacitated senator would be considered "vacant."

Unless Johnson dies, the state of South Dakota is unsure of how to proceed if he's incapacitated. If he dies, however, the governor, Mike Rounds, would appoint a replacement who would serve until the next general election in 2008, Chaggaris explains.

Because Rounds is a Republican, an appointment of this nature could affect the balance of power in the Senate, and thus the entire Congress. Leadership would be given back to the Republicans, because in a split Senate, the deciding vote is given to the vice president.

Rounds released a statement saying, "we are hopeful of good news for our friend and colleague."

Johnson, 59, a fourth-generation South Dakotan, was born in Canton to college professor Van Johnson and homemaker Ruth Johnson. He attended school in Canton, Flandreau and Vermillion and graduated from Vermillion High School in 1965.

He attended the University of South Dakota, where he met the woman he would marry shortly after graduation — Barbara Brooks of Sioux Falls. Johnson went on to earn both a master's degree in public administration and a law degree from USD.

Johnson started a law practice in Vermillion in 1975 and ran for statewide office in 1978. He served four years in the state House of Representatives and another four years in the state Senate before setting his sights on Washington.

He was elected to South Dakota's U.S. House seat in 1986 and served five terms before moving to the U.S. Senate in 1996.

Johnson was most recently re-elected in 2002, narrowly defeating then-Rep. John Thune, and currently serves on the Senate's Appropriations Committee, Budget Committee, Banking Committee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Indian Affairs Committee.

The couple, who still have a home in Vermillion, 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 public service in Washington.

Both Johnson and his wife have battled cancer.

The senator underwent prostate cancer in 2004 and subsequent tests have shown him to be clear of the disease. Barb Johnson is a two-time breast cancer survivor.

©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

The_Conquistador extends best wishes for a highly successful recovery. Obviously, nothing will speed this recovery faster than immediate resignation from the Senate.

 

:/ Do you think the Governor should appoint a Republican or Democrat to fill the seat?

 

Vladimir Putin strikes again...

 

It really would be tragic if the Republican governor were to appoint a Republican to fill his seat. I think that doing so in a normal term is one thing but with the recent swing back to the Democrats and how it would change the whole balance of power that the public has obviously voted for, it would be beyond bad. OTOH it would be a great opportunity for the Republican governor to show he can consider more than partisan politics with the power he has been given.

 

Indeed. The polonium is EVERYWHERE!

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Wow. The guy has a stroke and the first comments about it from either side are:

Otto - Maybe Republicans poisoned him!
T_J - Resign and Republicans get power!

This is what sickens me about today's political climate. How about we just wish the guy a speedy recovery. He had a freakin' stroke.

 

I believe the Governor should appoint the person best suited for the job,who will best represent the values of the South Dakotan electorate. If that happens to be a Republican, then so be it. I for one, believe that the majority of voters in South Dakota are more aligned with Republican Congressional leadership than Democratic. Just look at the House. You've got Nancy Pelosi as the future Speaker -- a super liberal from the Capitol of the LibPigPen, San Francisco, and you've got a certified madman from HARLEM, Charlie Rangel, heading up Weighs & Means. In the Senate you've got ultra-kook fringe liberal Harry Reid from Sin City leading the charge. Are you telling me the good Christian folks of South Dakota want these heathens representing them? Of course not. The Governor should weigh these concerns if in fact he must select a replacement.

 

No, my first response was to extend wishes for a successful recovery. Nice try.

 

It doesn't matter who is from CA or NY though. The South Dakotans elected a Democrat to Senate, not to represent them in Church. And since when were Reid, Rangel, Pelosi not Christian?


We all know how the GOP treats its Christian base.

 

The people of SD didn't vote for Pelosi and anyway Pelosi is in the House and whoever the Governor of SD apoints has no bearing on Pelosi. As for the Senate the people of SD probably have more in common with the people of Nevada than the people of Mississippi where Trent Lott is from.

The good Christian folks of SD did find it in their Christian hearts to elect and re-elect not only the Democrat Tim Johnson but also their lone representative in the House the Democrat Stephanie Herseth.

 

Classic...

 

Right?

A new low even for TJ.

His feigned concern for Senator Johnson's health is sickening.

 

Political reality:

Johnson stays in office as long as he is not dead.

The Republican governor would appoint a Republican replacement, in the event Johnson dies in office.

Johnson's term expires in 2008, fwiw.

 

Statement just out from Sen. Johnson's office ...