This is short. I'm sorry.
But CNN just reported breaking news that Obama's grandmother is seriously ill, and he is going to Hawaii. From what I gathered, he will be there for Thursday and Friday. He may return to the trail on the weekend.
CNN said her condition is deteriorating.
The campaign released a statement but I have no link at the time.
Just trying to get this out there, ASAP.
Let's all keep Barack and his grandmother in our thoughts and prayers.
Thanks to butchergirl for this link to background information on his grandmother from USA Today.
http://www.usatoday.com/...
Update 1: Thank you to the posters who watched this on Countdown. KO said she has come home from the hospital but her condition is still very serious.
I will keep updating it as we get more information. Consider this a community effort!
Update 2: Larry King reporting Obama events in WI and IA cancelled for Thursday. King says he will return to trail on Saturday. No word beyond that on her condition.
Update 3: From the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Democrat Barack Obama is cancelling nearly all his campaign events Thursday and Friday to fly to Hawaii to visit his suddenly ill 86-year-old grandmother.
Campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday that Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham, who helped raise him, was released from the hospital late last week. But he says her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious.
Gibbs said Obama would return to the campaign trail on Saturday, though he was unsure where.
Obama events originally planned for Madison, Wis., and Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday will be replaced with one in Indianapolis before he makes the long flight to Hawaii.
Update 4: Michelle will be covering for Barack on the trail in OH.
Update 5: Question for the community. There has been an ActBlue donation page set up in honor of Barack's grandmother. Some here have argued we should link it, others have suggested that may send the wrong message. If this is something the community would like added to the diary, I can do so. But I'd like to get a feel for everyone's opinions on this before I do. We would hate to send the wrong message on this.
Update 6: Courtesy of kitv.com, the statement from Gibbs.
http://www.kitv.com/...
"Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life. Along with his mother and his grandfather, she raised him in Hawaii from the time he was born until the moment he left for college. As he said at the Democratic Convention, she poured everything she had into him."
Recently, his Grandmother has become ill, and in the last few weeks, her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious. It is for that reason that Senator Obama has decided to change his schedule on Thursday and Friday so that he can see her and spend some time with her. He will be returning to the campaign trail on Saturday."
Update 7: Great idea from David Kroning! Let's send serious love in the form of postcards in support of Sen. Obama's grandmother!
David's diary can be found here: http://www.dailykos.com/...
The address:
Mrs. Madelyn Dunham
In care of: Obama for America
Honolulu Headquarters
1050 Ala Moana Blvd Ste D2690
Honolulu, HI 96814
Andy Winer, the Hawaii state director for the Obama campaign, has confirmed in the comments below that the campaign will get the postcards sent to the above address to Barack's family. Thanks Andy!
Hamletta made a great point, let's send postcards- make it easier on the campaign so they don't have to deal with envelopes or things of that nature.