Dateline Washington — Hillary Clinton has been ill with pneumonia, her doctor revealed in a Sunday evening statement that may shake up the presidential race.
Mrs. Clinton’s health had been the subject of much speculation, fueled most recently by a coughing fit she had at the start of a campaign event in Cleveland last Monday.
But now it seems that the symptoms she blamed on seasonal allergies may have been a sign of the pneumonia that was diagnosed on Friday.
Dr. Lisa R. Bardack released a statement via the campaign revealing the diagnosis hours after the Democratic presidential nominee was seen stumbling on video after exiting a 9/11 memorial event early.
Dr. Bardack saidMrs. Clinton had an examination at her home in Chappaqua after the incident, which was a result of dehydration and overheating.
She said the candidate is “re-hydrated and recovering nicely.”
But the campaign has been criticized by the media for failing to keep the press appraised of her health and for departing from the 9/11 memorial without any press in tow.
“Sunday’s events at the Sept. 11 memorial show the importance of having a group of reporters on standby, and close at hand, to cover the potential next president of the United States,” Anne Gearan, the Washington Post political reporter and current chair of the Clinton press pool, told CNNMoney.
The Post’s Chris Cillizza, who dismissed what he called “conspiracy theories” about Mrs. Clinton’s health last week, said he has changed his thinking.
“Whereas Clinton and her campaign could laugh off questions about her health before today, the ‘overheating’ episode makes it almost impossible for them to do so,” he wrote. “Not only has it come at a time when there was growing chatter — with very little evidence — that her health was a problem but it also happened at a 9/11 memorial event — an incredibly high-profile moment with lots and lots of cameras and reporters around.”
Questions about Mrs. Clinton’s health have swirled in recent weeks as Republican rival Donald Trump frequently questioned her stamina on the campaign trail.
Mr. Trump said in an interview last week after Clinton’s coughing fit that he would release his full medical records if Clinton makes her records public.
He was reportedly told about his Democratic rival having to leave the 9/11 memorial early, according to a Washington Post reporter, but did not comment.
On Friday, the same day she was diagnosed with pneumonia, Mrs. Clinton had a packed schedule, according to Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Epstein. She appeared at two fundraisers, a long national security meeting and a CNN interview.
But the campaign has been criticized by the media for failing to keep the press appraised of her health and for departing from the 9/11 memorial without any press in tow.
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Clinton supporter, said “‘powering through” illness is what women do,” in a tweet.
“I am glad to learn that Secretary Clinton is already feeling better and I wish her a speedy recovery,” interim Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile said, according to Bloomberg.
”I look forward to seeing her back out on the campaign trail and continuing on the path to victory.”
This story originated at www.thehill.com
