South Dakota's Johnson Backs Off Debates; Cites Recovery From Brain Hemorrhage

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Nearly two years after he suffered a brain hemorrhage, Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) said Friday that he will not be participating in any debates against his Republican challenger before the November elections.

In a statement quoted by Politico, Johnson said, "I have been open and honest about my recovery. While my speech continues to improve it is not yet 100 percent and I have not yet reached a point in my rehab where my participation in a debate would accurately reflect my capabilities. Therefore I will not participate in traditional political debates during this campaign."

The two-term lawmaker also assured supporters that he was "100 percent capable" of performing his duties as a senior senator. He said he had not missed a single vote since returning to the Senate in September 2007, and that he continues to "fully participate" in hearings of the panels he chairs.

Johnson is chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs, which is under the Senate Appropriations panel, the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions under the Banking and Housing panel, and the Subcommittee on Water and Power under the Energy Committee.

His opponent, state Rep. Joel Dykstra (R-Canton), told the Daily Republic that Johnson's decision is "unfortunate" and "deprives the voters of South Dakota the opportunity to compare the candidates in action and to have a real sense of what their choices are."

Johnson's Campaign director Steve Jarding told the Argus Leader on Sunday Johnson will be "crisscrossing the state, meeting groups of constituents, holding roundtables," this week.