* US Sen. Dick Durbin underwent surgery to have a small tumor removed from his stomach…
Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, underwent surgery in Chicago to remove a small gastro-intestinal stromal tumor (GIST) discovered during a routine check-up.
The Illinois Democrat’s doctors found no evidence of cancer, Durbin’s office said, and the tumor was able to be removed in its entirety using laparoscopic procedures.
“Senator Durbin went through today’s surgical procedure with flying colors and is resting comfortably,” said Durbin spokesman Joe Shoemaker. “He expects to be released from the hospital and resume a light schedule in the next couple days and should be able to resume a full schedule as soon as next week.”
The tumor was not present in the lining cells of the stomach and was completely removed, with preliminary biopsy results indicating a favorable prognosis, they said.
Durbin spokesman Joseph Shoemaker struck an optimistic note about the surgery.
“This particular type of tumor is a rare form of stomach cancer, so it is cancer, yes,” he said in an interview.
But he added that the type of tumor that was discovered cannot be classified strictly as benign or malignant since they all have potential to become malignant. “However, small ones such as Sen. Durbin’s can often be completely removed and the patient then runs a totally normal course,” he said.
* Democratic Congressman Bobby Rush stepped all over Alexi Giannoulias’ positive message about the president’s trip to town today. Rush told ABC7 that he’s “not sold” on Giannoulias. Watch…
Quote…
“I’m not sold on him. I don’t want just the same old stuff. We want a Senator who is willing to work hard on the real issues that this state is confronted with.”
* ADDED: Raw video of president’s speech at Ford plant.
* Obama on Giannoulias: ‘You can count on him’: “I’m sure a lot of you have heard what he did for Hartmarx,” Obama said. “This is a clothing company that has employed people in this state for more than a century. By the way, I’m a customer,” the president said, to laughter and applause. “When they fell on hard times, the big bank tried to pull their credit and destroy 600 jobs. Alexi stepped in,” Obama said. “He told the bank that if they did that, they would no longer be managing the money of Illinois taxpayers. Because of what he did, Alexi helped save that company and save those jobs. That’s the kind of person you want in the United States Senate.”
* Obama Stumps for Giannoulias in Chicago: During his remarks, Giannoulias repeatedly sought to link Kirk to former President George W. Bush. “Are we going to send people to Washington to get things done, or will we elect those whose only objective is to obstruct and deny the achievements of the other party?” Giannoulias said, according to the pool report. “That’s what this race is all about.”
* Obama bets prestige on Senate seat he once held: Giannoulias may welcome the in-person support from the nation’s top Democrat, but it could come with a price: Obama has a losing track record when it comes to candidates he has personally campaigned for. Democrats lost governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey last year, and the party suffered a stunning defeat this year when Republicans flipped a Senate seat in liberal Massachusetts long held by the late Edward M. Kennedy.
* Durbin: Alexi will ’surge forward’ with Obama’s backing: Durbin deflected a question about the records that emerged this week which show jailed developer Tony Rezko held an ownership stake in a development project that received a previously undisclosed loan from the Giannoulias family’s Broadway Bank. “The Rezko contribution to [Republican Senate candidate] Mark Kirk?,” Durbin asked coyly. “I only know about the Rezko contribution to Mark Kirk.”
* President Gives Impassioned Speech At Ford Plant
