On Capitol Hill, senator's illness is center of attention

WASHINGTON — Political leaders of both parties suddenly focused their attention this week on a stricken Democratic senator from South Dakota. The incoming Senate majority leader rushed to his bedside. A media throng assembled outside George Washington University Hospital.

It might seem like an inordinate fuss for a two-term senator not well known outside his home state or the corridors of Capitol Hill.

But as Sen. Tim Johnson, 59, remained in critical condition Thursday after emergency brain surgery, Democratic control of the new Senate hung in jeopardy.

Johnson underwent surgery early Thursday to stop bleeding in his brain.

He was hospitalized three weeks before Democrats are set to take control of the new Senate by a fragile 51-49 ratio. Democrats seized control of both chambers of Congress from Republicans in the November midterm elections.

If Johnson were to leave office or die, a replacement — presumably a Republican — would be named by South Dakota's Republican governor, Mike Rounds.

A Republican appointee would create a 50-50 tie and effectively allow the GOP to retain control of the Senate because of Vice President Dick Cheney's tiebreaking vote.

Even if Johnson fully recuperates, aides and advisers said, Democrats are aware they remain one fatal illness — or one party switch — from a Republican claim on their majority. Capitol Hill aides predicted tough negotiations between the two parties early next month over rules for organizing the new Senate that would address the possibility of a Democratic seat being vacated because of illness or death.

The two parties might clash in particular over an agreement from 2001 that enabled Democrats to seize control after one Republican senator switched parties. Republicans are likely to try to revive the precedent, according to the congressional aides, and Democrats would likely fight it.

Johnson was described as recovering and holding his wife's hand. He was on "an uncomplicated post-operative course," the U.S. Capitol physician said after visiting him Thursday afternoon.

Johnson suffered a hemorrhage in his brain caused by a rare and sometimes fatal condition called arteriovenous malformation, in which arteries and veins grow abnormally large, become tangled and sometimes burst.

"He has been appropriately responsive to both word and touch. No further surgical intervention has been required," said the physician, Adm. John Eisold. He had said earlier, "The senator is recovering without complication."

Johnson was responding to the voice of his wife, Barbara, and following directions after surgery, the senator's office said in a statement. "He was reaching for and holding her hand."

Johnson was taken to George Washington University Hospital at midday Wednesday after becoming disoriented and stammering during a conference call with reporters.

Eisold said doctors stopped the bleeding in Johnson's brain and drained the blood that had accumulated there. "It is premature to determine whether further surgery will be required or to assess any long-term prognosis," he said.

Thursday afternoon, Johnson underwent an additional procedure to prevent blood clots. The procedure is standard after surgery, said Julianne Fisher, Johnson's spokeswoman. Otherwise, she said, there were no new developments. "No news is good news," she said.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who is scheduled to become majority leader when the Senate convenes Jan. 4, said: "We're all praying for a full recovery. We're confident that will be the case."

Reid, who visited Johnson at the hospital Wednesday night and Thursday, said Johnson "really looks good." However, Reid declined to provide details of Johnson's medical condition.

Politically, "there isn't a thing that's changed," he said, adding that he was keeping incoming Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky "totally advised" of developments.

Departing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., visited the hospital Thursday afternoon.

Senate historian Donald Ritchie said senators serve out their terms unless they resign or die. He said there was precedent for senators remaining in the Senate even though illness kept them away from the chamber for long periods.

This year, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., missed three months of votes because of back surgery. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., was away for seven months in 1988 after undergoing surgery for brain aneurysms.

In 1969, another South Dakota senator, Karl Mundt, a Republican, had a stroke while in office.

Mundt continued to serve until the end of his term in January 1973, although he was unable to attend Senate sessions and was stripped of his committee assignments by fellow Republicans in 1972.

The White House offered best wishes.

"Our prayers are with Senator Johnson," White House press secretary Tony Snow said.

"Look, he's a great guy, and it's one of these things where everybody's concerned and our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, his staff, his colleagues."

The last time the Senate convened with 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats was in January 2001.

Then, the two parties struck a power-sharing agreement under which the parties split their representation on committees evenly. Committee staff positions and funding were also split equally.

Republicans chose the committee chairmen and controlled the agenda on the Senate floor. Under the terms of the deal, any party that gained a numerical majority would then have control of the Senate.

By June 2001, Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont switched from being a Republican to an Independent who caucused with Democrats, putting Democrats in charge.

Johnson, a centrist Democrat, was first elected to the Senate in 1996 after serving 10 years in the House. He is in line to become chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee.

He underwent prostate-cancer treatment in 2004, and subsequent tests have shown him to be clear of the disease.

Johnson is the second senator to become ill after the Nov. 7 election.

Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo., was diagnosed with leukemia on Election Day. He's back at work.

Material from The Washington Post is included in this report.