What might be ahead for SD's senate seat

scottso

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Friday December 29, 2006 · 2:02 PM PST

2006/12/29 · 14:02

I've been waiting to hear something about how Tim Johnson was doing, and finally this story came out in the NY Times yesterday. As a neurologist, I am able to do some reading between the lines that others might be unable to do. Here's what it says medically for him -- and, since this is an analytical group blog, politically for us.

First, they are weaning down his sedation, which obviously means he is getting better rather than worse. The tone of the doctor's comments supports that too. While one can obviously never be too certain about anything when it comes to serious illness, at this point I would have no reason to believe that Senator Johnson is going to die. As many on this site (and others) have discussed, Senate precedent appears to indicate that he will continue to hold his seat as long as he is alive, so barring an unforseen catastrophe I think we will hold the Senate 50-49.