Stricken Senate Democrat Undergoes Surgery

By KATE ZERNIKE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 — Senator Tim Johnson, a Democrat from South Dakota, was hospitalized on Wednesday after what his office at first called a “possible stroke,” highlighting the fragility of the Democrats’ new majority in the Senate.

At 11 p.m., Mr. Johnson was undergoing surgery, and was expected to be in the operating room until the early morning hours.

Earlier, after what his office called “a comprehensive evaluation by the stroke team” at George Washington University Hospital here, a spokeswoman for Mr. Johnson said he had not suffered a stroke or a heart attack.

Shortly before the surgery, Mr. Johnson’s spokeswoman, Julianne Fisher, released a statement from Adm. John Eisold, the attending physician of the Capitol, saying Mr. Johnson had been admitted “with the symptoms of a stroke.” The statement said that Mr. Johnson was under the care of physicians at George Washington University and that there would be no further updates. His office said Mr. Johnson, who will turn 60 on Dec. 28, became disoriented during a conference call with reporters. He stuttered, then seemed to recover before asking if there were more questions and ending the call.

He walked back to his office, where he collapsed and was then examined by the Capitol physician, who decided Mr. Johnson should go to the hospital. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance around noon.

People who saw Mr. Johnson earlier in the week said he appeared healthy.

If Mr. Johnson’s health problems prevent him from serving, his replacement would be named by Gov. Michael Rounds of South Dakota, a Republican. Assuming that Mr. Rounds named a Republican, the 51-49 Democratic majority in the new Senate would become a 50-50 split. Vice President Dick Cheney would break the tie, effectively giving Republicans control of the chamber.

Senator Harry Reid, the Democratic leader, rushed to the hospital Wednesday afternoon, his spokesman said, but it was not clear whether Mr. Reid had been able to visit Mr. Johnson. Mr. Reid’s office issued a statement calling Mr. Johnson “a dear friend to me and to all of us here in the Senate” and saying, “Every member of the United States Senate sends our best to him and to his family at this difficult time, and we wish him a full recovery.”

Read more on Senator Johnson's condition at the New York Times.