Sen. Baucus (D-MT) receives pacemaker | Billings Gazette

[Ediacara]

Sen. Baucus receives pacemaker

Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. - Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., is doing well with a newly implanted heart pacemaker and expected to return to Washington, D.C., Monday upon his release from Minnesota's Mayo Clinic, an aide said Sunday night.

The 62-year-old Baucus, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, may be back at work Tuesday, spokesman Barrett Kaiser said.

The pacemaker was implanted Friday, three days after Baucus underwent a nonsurgical procedure at the Mayo Clinic to help correct an irregular heartbeat. The clinic said then that he likely would be hospitalized until the weekend, and probably could return to work this week.

Kaiser said the first procedure "was aimed at correcting the irregular heartbeat. The pacemaker is aimed at keeping it that way."

Baucus suffered atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm abnormality in which two of the chambers of the heart beat rapidly. The clinic said the condition is not life-threatening, but may cause shortness of breath and complications that include stroke and congestive heart failure.

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[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. What Max needs is a device that gives him a jolt when he votes Republican

[Frodo]

2. He doesn't have too much room for error.

I think MT went for Bush by better than 20%. He can't afford to swing too far left.

I guess this just heightens the pressure on Sweitzer to win the Governor's race since Max's term isn't up till '08.

Here's hoping he makes a solid recovery.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. I completely disagree. I didn't vote for Max and volunteer

for his campaign so that he could pander to the right. It isn't close to a case of 'swinging to far to the left' - it is a case of completely abandoning the Democratic constituency that elected him. And I haven't talked to any other Montana Democrats in the last year who plan on voting for him again. He has betrayed us too many times. I'm as partisan as anyone, but if we can't beat him in the primary I just won't vote in the Senate race in the general.

[UrbScotty]

4. Best wishes to him (nt)