Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Reid returns to public activity

Senator to take part in community event following `ministroke'

Harry Reid Doctors not placing physical limits on 65-year-old senator

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Wednesday plans to make his first public appearance since suffering a "ministroke" last week, according to a spokeswoman.

Reid, 65, will take part in an event for religious leaders and social service advocates at Nevada Partners in North Las Vegas. The "faith-based services symposium" was organized to draw attention to community needs.

Doctors have placed no physical limits on Reid, who plans to resume a full schedule when Congress reconvenes on Sept. 6, spokeswoman Tessa Hafen said.

Political observers said Monday the Senate's Democratic leader will be under tight scrutiny when he returns to Washington as colleagues and critics watch for any aftereffects.

"His medical condition is out there, and people will be thinking about it," said Stuart Rothenberg, a Washington political analyst.

Reid has been recovering from a transient ischemic attack, a possible precursor to a stroke.

Reid's office announced his medical condition on Friday afternoon, saying he began experiencing lightheadedness Tuesday evening at his home in Searchlight. Two physicians at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center said Monday he was treated there.

Rothenberg said it was not a good idea for Reid, 65, to wait three days before disclosing the condition.

Although the Friday announcement may have been timed to minimize immediate media attention, Rothenberg said it may also have caused more suspicion.

"This is not one of those Third World regimes where they hide what the leader is doing," Rothenberg said. "I think he was trying to protect himself, and when you do that, it makes people wonder if something bigger is going on than a mild stroke."

Hafen said there was a delay in disclosing Reid's diagnosis because no one could say conclusively what happened until several tests were evaluated.

Reid, who is staying with family in Las Vegas, was not available to be interviewed Monday, Hafen said. His staff continued to decline to disclose the names of doctors who treated him.

Norm Ornstein, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, said he does not think Reid's medical condition will diminish his role as Democratic leader.

"Reid has a very firm hold on his leadership and caucus," Ornstein said. "No one in his caucus is likely to be looking for excuses to get rid of him."

Even if another Democrat wanted to oust Reid, this would not be the time to do it, Rothenberg said.

"This is a period in which everyone has to be deferential and solicitous toward Reid," Rothenberg said. "No one can be seen as taking advantage of this medical condition."

There might even be a political upside to Reid's condition because senators from both parties may want to be more cooperative, said Eric Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.

"Events like this make politicians realize that no matter whether you agree or disagree with someone on policy issues, there is a personal element of respect and friendship that goes beyond bitter partisanship," Herzik said.

Hafen said last week's event will not have any impact on Reid's decision whether to seek re-election in 2010 when he will be 70.

Dr. Nina J. Solenski, a stroke neurologist at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center in Charlottesville, declined to discuss Reid's case specifically because she does not know the details.

But Solenski said a high percentage of patients who have had a transient ischemic attack eventually have a stroke.

"This is a general warning sign that a stroke is impending," Solenski said. "If this is a first event, and the patient is associated with other risk factors like hypertension, there is a higher incidence of stroke over time."

A stroke can be avoided if treatment is administered in a timely fashion, Solenski said. "It's a case-by-case situation," she said.

Review-Journal writer Paul Harasim contributed to this report.