Bernie Sanders health now a concern after he had a stent put into his heart.

Senator Bernie Sanders at a campaign event. Politco/AP.

Senator Bernie Sanders had to leave the campaign trail after having chest pain and was treated with a heart stent. Politico. Sanders has been hospitalized and has canceled several campaign events. Sanders has had a breakneck campaigning schedule and there is evidence that it has taken a toll. Sanders was notably hoarse at the last debate and had to cancel some events after he lost his voice. The senator has been slipping in the polls behind Elizabeth Warren but has a large warchest, having raised $25 million in the 3rd quarter. Sanders has avoided concerns about his health, despite being 78, as opposed to frontrunner Joe Biden. Though the stent isn't a huge medical concern, his health will now be a question. 

My Comment:

Bad news for Sanders. He's at a critical point in the campaign if he wants to secure the 2020 nomination. Biden looks weak, both due to his own health concerns and the various scandals surrounding him. Sanders would have a good chance to surpass him but he can't do it if he's laid up. And Elizabeth Warren is surging in the polls, taking many of Sanders voters. He's in trouble here. 

I think Sander's schedule has been bad for him. I'm no fan but even I have to admit he's been campaigning hard. He's almost Trump like in how hard he is campaigning and it seems to have taken a toll on his health. Sanders is not a young man anymore and pushing himself so hard appears to have had consequences. 

I doesn't sound like the operation was that serious. A stent isn't a huge deal and if Sanders was a normal old man, it wouldn't be that much of a concern. But he has a stressful life. Being a Senator alone is not easy and neither is running for President, especially the way that Biden is doing it. And he is auditioning for the most stressful job in the world. All presidents age horribly while in office and even President Trump looks worse for wear after having the job for awhile. 

Sanders really did not need his health concerns to flare up. Voters were already asking themselves what he had to offer that was any better than Elizabeth Warren. She has the advantage of not being a white male but shares most of his platform. And now, progressive voters can justify burning Sanders as they get the same platform with Warren but have a much better chance of her living through her term assuming she gets elected. 

This will probably be a bitter pill to swallow for Sanders. It's clear he wants to be president to secure his legacy and transform the country. He got screwed out of his chance in 2016 and it looks like his body is betraying him now. 

He still has a chance though, to at least be the candidate. He has a huge and devoted progressive base who are foolish enough to give him large amounts of money. His $25 million warchest is pretty huge compared to the other Democratic candidates (though nothing compared to what President Trump has). You can do a lot with $25 million dollars.

On the other hand, if you can't campaign you can't compete. There is no way to win if you are in the hospital. If Sanders health concerns are worse than reported or they cause him to miss a debate, he's probably done for.

I do have to say that we have at least three candidates that have possible health concerns. Both Sanders and Biden have some pretty obvious ones and even President Trump is fairly old. And if Hillary Clinton enters the race (which I think she will), there is a good chance that both candidates in the 2020 race will be in their 70's...