Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (AP) – Pennsylvania Governor John Feterman, the leading Democrat in the high-ranking U.S. Senate race, suffered a stroke just days before the primary, but was on the verge of “full recovery,” his campaign said Sunday.
The 52-year-old Feterman, who confirmed he had been hospitalized all weekend, insisted the health emergency did not delay his campaign. But the stunning revelation, two days before the Pennsylvania primary, created a cloud of uncertainty over the Democratic nominee’s candidacy in what may be one of the party’s best options for the Senate.
“I feel good considering all things,” Feterman said in a text message to the Associated Press.
On Friday morning, before Feterman appeared at a planned campaign event at the University of Millersville, Feterman’s wife, Giselle, “noticed that John was not himself and shortly after he began to confuse his speech and was taken to hospital.” , the campaign spokesman said.
In a 16-second video released by his campaign, Fetterman sat down, speaking clearly, explaining that he “just doesn’t feel very well” on Friday, and decided to go to the hospital at his wife’s insistence. He set out the situation in detail in a written statement.
“I had a stroke caused by a clot in my heart that had been in A-fib rhythm for too long,” Feterman said. He said doctors were able to remove the clot by “reversing the stroke” and controlling his heart.
“The good news is that I feel much better and the doctors tell me that I have not suffered any cognitive impairment,” he said in a statement.
Questions about Feterman’s health revolved over the weekend after he canceled scheduled public appearances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. His campaign cited a health problem, but was not specific until Sunday.
The campaign explained the delay in its public disclosure, saying Feterman’s condition “has been evolving in real time since Friday. We wanted to release something once we had a clearer picture of his health. “
Fireman did not say how long he would be in the hospital.
“I am being held here for observation so far, but I have to get out of here soon,” he said in a statement. “The doctors assured me that I would be able to return to the trail, but first I had to take a minute, rest and recover.
Feterman’s future treatment regimen is still being developed, but will include a healthier diet in addition to rest, a campaign spokesman said.
Democrats see the race to replace retired Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey as one of their best chances to win a Senate seat this fall. Voters will decide the nominations for the two parties’ general elections on Tuesday.
Famous cardiac surgeon Mehmet Oz, former hedge fund CEO David McCormick and conservative commentator Katie Barnett are among the GOP’s primary groups. Democrats choose from four people, including Feterman, three terms from US Representative Connor Lamb and US Representative Malcolm Kenyatta.
Thousands of early votes have already been cast.
Feterman is a strong favorite of the Democrats. He has been leading in polls and fundraising from the beginning, even when the party’s organization has united around Lamb. Despite this support, Lamb struggled to reach the electorate or even break through to Feterman’s position among the mainstream voters.
Lamb tweeted that he did a TV interview when he learned about Feterman’s stroke.
“Haley and I keep John and his family in our prayers and wish him a full and speedy recovery,” Lamb wrote.
Kenya called Feterman an “amazing family man.” “Prayer prayers are with him and his family as he recovers from this stroke,” he tweeted. “I look forward to seeing him in the campaign again soon.
And on the Republican side, Oz noted that he has experience in treating Feterman’s condition.
“I have cared for patients with atrial fibrillation and witnessed the wonders of modern medicine in the treatment of stroke, so I am grateful that you received care so quickly,” tweeted Oz. “My whole family is praying for your speedy recovery.”
Feterman’s heart condition, atrial fibrillation, occurs when the upper chambers of the heart, called the atria, go out of sync with the pumping action of the lower chambers. Sometimes patients feel a flutter or a beating heart, but many times they do not realize the episode.
A-fib is most common in the elderly, and other risks include high blood pressure or a family history of arrhythmias. It causes 130,000 deaths and 750,000 hospitalizations a year in the United States
Feterman, who is 6 feet 8, has been discovered for his quest to lose weight in the past. He weighed more than 400 pounds before losing nearly 150 pounds in 2018.
His impressive stature is a big part of his political appeal.
The former mayor of Western Pennsylvania has tattoos on his arms, a clean-shaven head and a goatee. He swears on social media and wears shorts practically everywhere, even in winter.
He promised to move forward on Sunday despite health problems.
“Our campaign is not slowing down at all and we are still on track to win this primary election on Tuesday and change that seat in the Senate in November,” he said. “Thank you for all the support and please go out there and vote.”
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People reported from New York.
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