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Injured Kennedy can’t attend tonight’s debate

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* Oh, man…

Chris Kennedy will be unable to travel to Springfield for tonight’s debate.

Kennedy spokeswoman Rebecca Evans released the following statement:

“During routine exercise this morning, Chris Kennedy injured his back. Under instructions from his doctor, Chris will be unable to travel to Springfield to participate in tonight’s debate. He has spoken to the organizers of the debate who have worked so hard to put together this important forum and sent his regrets. He also sends his regrets to campaign volunteers who helped organize more than a dozen debate viewing parties throughout the state. Chris will return to the campaign trail very soon and looks forward to next week’s debate on ABC 7 Chicago.”

Dr. Joseph Alleva, Chief, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at NorthShore University Health System, issued the following statement:

“During exercise this morning, Chris injured his back. In order to fully recover, he cannot travel to this evening’s debate. The travel would only cause the condition to worsen. With our treatment strategy, I am confident Chris will be able to resume a full campaign schedule in the next few days.”

Dude finally gets a couple of boosts today from the Pritzker poll and the Trib nod and he injures himself. Oy.

…Adding… Kennedy reportedly believes he will be back on his feet and campaigning by tomorrow, but his doctor thinks it could be a couple of days. Bernie Sanders is having a rally tomorrow and there’s been a rumor going around that Chuy Garcia (who has endorsed Kennedy) could bring him on stage even though Sen. Daniel Biss was endorsed by Sanders’ group Our Revolution Illinois.

…Adding… Seems reasonable…

I'm told @Ra_Joy asked forum organizers if he could fill in for Kennedy's absence. They said no. Not the first time Kennedy's health has become a concern on the campaign trail. Campaign insists he's in good health, just a minor accident. Won't commit to releasing a full physical. https://t.co/0At9qGO6yX

— Mark Maxwell (@WCIA3Mark) February 21, 2018

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 2:56 pm

Comments

That’s what happens when you pat yourself too hard on the back for a Tronc endorsement.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 2:58 pm
Seriously, that’s way bad news for Kennedy. He was having his best week.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 2:59 pm
Few things worse than a bad back. The back is one of those things, like eyes, that you take for granted until there’s a problem. Then it becomes a major, debilitating problem.

I hope he’s OK and back on the trail asap.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 2:59 pm
Plenty of Kennedy’s errors were unforced, but he’s also an absolutely snake bit candidate.

Comment by Arsenal Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:01 pm
I’ll be interested to see how the moderators and the other candidates handle his absence. Will the candidates attack the empty chair? Will the moderators prevent that since the candidate is unable to respond?

Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:04 pm
Anon 2:58, that was mean. Kinda funny, but mean.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:06 pm
Agree, 47. Nothing worse than a bad back. Hope he heals soon.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:06 pm
What an outrageous insult to downstate voters.

I kid of course. I hope he feels better soon.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:06 pm
Hope this is not a “Harry Reid” type exercising injury

Comment by Texas Red Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:07 pm
Kennedy can’t catch any luck.

Hope he is back on his feet soon, he’s on the move and needs to keep moving.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:09 pm
Here I thought the story would be about Kennedy hurting himself by putting his foot in his mouth again. Now that I got that out of my system… I hope he has a speedy recovery, back issues are terrible.

In the end his not being there will probably be helpful to his campaign, he isn’t very good in these settings and now he won’t get in the way of Pritzker and Biss bickering at each other.

Comment by Concerned Dem Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:11 pm
Will Ra Joy fill in?

Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:12 pm
Those Kennedys have notoriously bad backs… just sayin’

Comment by Boone's is Back Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:14 pm
Luck of the Ir-

Comment by Blue Bayou Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:15 pm
Give his time to Bob Marshall and let’s finally have it out on the three state solution.

Comment by LXB Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:15 pm
=== Will Ra Joy fill in? ===

Debate rules surely would not allow that.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:17 pm
Is his nephew still in town? Can they send him instead?

Comment by Grand Avenue Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:17 pm
Isn’t the campaign trail exercise enough? Go out there and walk doors for an hour instead of hitting the gym.

Comment by Just Observing Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:18 pm
You know what’s great for a bad bad? Legalized weed.

Comment by Uptown Funk Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:18 pm
Dear lord, how many papers did the Tribune make Kennedy deliver this morning?

and …

Maybe Kennedy should slow down and take the elevator.

Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:19 pm
“Okay team, gather ’round… Comms has sent down a new message for this week… Kennedy: The candidate with a spine.”

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:22 pm
That is a tough break for the guy. Maybe he should change his workouts to strictly rollerblading. I hear it is easier on the body.

https://tinyurl.com/y7gzln2x

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:31 pm
Not only bad news for Kennedy, but bad news for Rauner as well.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:32 pm
To: Chris

From: Your Democratic opponents

Too bad, so sad! We will put your picture in an

empty chair.

Comment by DuPage Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:40 pm
As someone who occasionally been incapacitated for sometimes days at a time when my back goes out I can certainly relate. Mend well, Chris.

Comment by illini Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:55 pm
What other health problems is Maxwell talking about? That’s some thick innuendo.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:56 pm
If he plans on campaigning tomorrow, then It should be pointed out that are planes that fly between Springfield and Chicago. I gotta ask- the workout injury was bad enough that it needed immediate medical treatment? Most people take some over the counter stuff, heat/ice, wait a day and then go to the dr if not better.

Comment by Short Notice Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 3:56 pm
Anyone who knows anythng about back pain will tell you it’s worse the second day, not better. There’s usually no quick fix either. For his sake, hopefully theyre being overlly cautious now so it doesn’t get that bad.

Comment by oof Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 4:00 pm
===If he plans on campaigning tomorrow, then It should be pointed out that are planes that fly between Springfield and Chicago. I gotta ask- the workout injury was bad enough that it needed immediate medical treatment? Most people take some over the counter stuff, heat/ice, wait a day and then go to the dr if not better.===

What exactly are you saying?

Are you questioning the severity, the treatment, the decisions after the incident?

Kennedy hurt his back. He’ll do what he can, when he can, and how he can.

You’re worried that the Kennedy Crew might not be aware that air travel exists…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 4:02 pm
Maybe he could skype in to the debate from his home.

Comment by m Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 4:17 pm
Even assuming he could travel or appear in some sort of Skype-like capacity, depending on the nature of the injury he could be on some form of narcotics (either pain relievers or muscle relaxers) and not exactly in the clearest mental state to debate.

Comment by Anon324 Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 4:29 pm
I wish him a speedy recovery.

The important question: is he a weights or cardio kind of guy?

Comment by Red fish blue fish Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 6:17 pm
Rauner 45% v PritKer 55%. Rauner 48% v Kennedy 52%. Rauner 51% v Biss 49%.

Comment by Blue dog dem Wednesday, Feb 21, 18 @ 8:44 pm