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Bernie Sanders Has Heart Procedure, Cancels Events Until Further Notice
By: Danielle Kurtzleben | NPR
Posted on:
Updated at 11:46 a.m. ET
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is canceling presidential campaign events “until further” notice following a heart procedure, campaign senior adviser Jeff Weaver said Wednesday morning.
Weaver said in a brief written statement that Sanders “experienced some chest discomfort” during a Tuesday evening campaign event.
“Following medical evaluation and testing he was found to have a blockage in one artery and two stents were successfully inserted,” Weaver said in the statement. “Sen. Sanders is conversing and in good spirits. He will be resting up over the next few days.”
The campaign has not provided further information at this time.
The news comes as Sanders was preparing for Wednesday campaign events in Nevada, including a “Medicare for All” town hall in Las Vegas. It also comes less than two weeks before the next Democratic primary debate, on Oct. 15 in Ohio.
As of January 2016, Sanders had “no history of cardiovascular disease,” according to a letter from Sanders’ doctor released as part of his 2016 presidential campaign.
Health issues hurt Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race, when a bout of pneumonia caused her to leave a September 11 memorial service early. A video of the incident showed a weak-looking Clinton being assisted into a van. That led to a days-long discussion in the media of her health, as well as attacks from Donald Trump.
The incident could also raise questions about Sanders’ age. Sanders, currently 78, would be the oldest president elected in U.S. history.
He is also a top candidate in a Democratic field led by septuagenarians. Former Vice President Joe Biden is 76, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren is 70. This has led to concerns from some voters about whether nominating a candidate that old is the best choice for the Democratic Party.
Many of Sanders’ fellow Democratic presidential candidates, including Biden, Warren, California Sen. Kamala Harris and others tweeted messages wishing Sanders a speedy recovery.
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