Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid Suffers Mild Stroke

Reuters reports that Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) saw a doctor after feeling light-headed Tuesday and learned he'd suffered a mild stroke, aides said Friday.

"Senator Reid feels fine. There are no complications or any restrictions on his activities. He has undergone evaluations this week, and his doctors have recommended that he take advantage of the summer congressional recess for some down time," said a statement issued by Reid's press secretary, Tessa Hafen.

The statement said tht Reid, a four-term US Senator and former head of the Nevada Gaming Commission, sought medical attention at the urging of his wife, Landra. He was told he had experienced a transient ischemic attack, which is transient stroke that lasts a few minutes and occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted. Such strokes usually do not involve any permanent loss of abilities, but can be precursors of actual strokes.

No word yet when Senator Reid, 66, will return to Congress, which has been in recess since the beginning of August. Congress is set to resume after Labor Day, with Senate confirmation hearings slated to begin on September 6 for the nomination of Judge John Roberts, Jr. to the Supreme Court.

Be sure to read my profile of Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, UnLikely Leader of Senate Democrats.

Senator Reid is a moderate Democrat who is widely respected on both sides of the political aisle. The outspoken (yet soft-spoken) Reid has been extraordinarily effective in negotiating with the President and Senate Republicans. In May 2005, Senator Reid successfully led Senate Democrats in a tough fight to beat back an aggressive Bush/Republican power grab to kill the filibuster for judicial nominees.