Obama to visit grandmother, skip events

Posted: Monday, October 20, 2008 9:32 PM by Carrie Dann

From NBC/NJ's Athena Jones
ON PLANE EN ROUTE ORLANDO TO WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Obama will cancel campaign events to travel to Honolulu, HI on Thursday evening to visit his ailing 86-year-old grandmother Madelyn Dunham.

The senator, who last saw Dunham in August, is cancelling his previously scheduled trips to Iowa and Wisconsin and will instead hold an event in Indianapolis Thursday. He will fly to Hawaii from Indiana, spend Friday with his grandmother and will return to the campaign trail on Saturday, according to aide Robert Gibbs, who said that every other function of campaign would continue.

The campaign released the following statement:

"Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life. Along with his mother and his grandfather, she raised him in Hawaii from the time he was born until the moment he left for college. As he said at the Democratic Convention, she poured everything she had into him. Recently, his Grandmother has become ill, and in the last few weeks, her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious. It is for that reason that Senator Obama has decided to change his schedule on Thursday and Friday so that he can see her and spend some time with her. He will be returning to the campaign trail on Saturday."

Gibbs took a few questions after reading the statement.

"His grandmother right now is at home," he said. "She was released late last week from the hospital."

Michelle Obama will not travel to Hawaii with her husband. She will hold events in place of Obama in Akron, Ohio and Columbus, Ohio on Friday, the campaign said.

Gibbs, who said Obama speaks with his grandmother very frequently, did not expect the senator to make any public remarks on the matter. He declined to share the specifics of Dunham's medical condition, citing privacy reasons, and would say only that it was "very serious."

"The decision Sen. Obama is making to go to Hawaii I think underscores the seriousness of the situation," he added.

The campaign said Obama would campaign in the West on Saturday, though they have not yet released any more information.

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Comments

Blessings and prayers for you and your grandmother, Barack.

sherry, fort lauderdale, florida (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 4:37 AM)

I HOPE GRANDMA MAKES IT TO ELECTION DAY TO SEE HER PRIZE BECOME PREZ

Nj (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 4:59 AM)

It's sad this had to take place now; Obama's grandmother Madelyn is porbably the last waning link he has to his mother and grandfather. Reading his first book, you can palbably sense the love that existed in their small, but tight-knit family.

Dave, LA, CA (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 5:08 AM)

Senator Obama:
May god be with you sir. I have never come across a campaign till now that was this disciplined, dignified and distinguished. Even with the kind of attacks on your character, race, name and heritage, you sir have shown the world that politics need not always be nasty and playing mind games with people. That you can rise above that cheapness.
Listening to you inspires me. It lifts up my spirit. It makes me see things more positively. McCain and his cronies with their tactics cannot even hold a candle to your character, strength of conviction and your judgement.
No matter to the outcome on Nov4th, Kudos to you !!!

raj, austin TX (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 6:23 AM)

God bless Mrs. Dunham and her family in these tough times. I'm glad Sen. Obama is taking time to visit with her.

God is good ALL the time.

Christa, MD (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 6:26 AM)

Our prayers are with her.

martha moomaw (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 6:47 AM)

I pray for Mrs. Dunham and for Senator Obama. May God be with them both.

Marie, Philadelphia, PA (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 6:58 AM)

My thoughts and prayers go out to Mrs. Dunham, Senator Obama and the entire family.

Doreta, Kitchener, ON Canada (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:07 AM)

How long will it take the right wing mouth-breathers to label this as a 'stunt' to garner sympathy? Let's see how low the pond-scum is willing to go.

Bill D. (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:26 AM)

Mr.Obama, I would like to say that my prayers are with you and your family. I pray that God will be with you and you family all the way. And as alway, continue to thrust the Almighty God. You go and be with you grandmother and don't worry, I am one that is still going to vote for you no matter what.

Gloria, Oklahoma (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:28 AM)

I know I typically post anti-Obama stuff in here but I'd like to send my prayers out to him and his family. You are in my thoughts, Barack.

Full Moon (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:34 AM)

Our prayers are with you and your grandmother. Having had a special grandmother myself, I understand your feelings..We will carry on the fight in your absence.

Brad Cantor, Portland,OR (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:35 AM)

Here we go again, dragging out white grandma ! Please we all know it's a ploy ! Maybe while he's their he could go by the hospital's ( plural ) where he was born and get a certified copy of his birth cert. Which he still refuses to produce. Before elction day he should be forced to prove his legal right to be Pres or be removed from the ballot !!!! Come on GOP get on this. Expose him to be as fraudulent as his group ACORN !!!!!!

Enough Obama BS (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:46 AM)

I will be praying for Madalyn Dunham. It was she, and her good,moral, rock solid Kansas values that helped shape Barack Obama into the hope of this nation. I was raised on the same not far from where She grew up. Always work harder than you have to for the benefit of everybody. Always see the good in everybody. Always strive for the common goals of the community. Do not flinch or shy from the task at hand. And most of all, see the face of God in everyone.
I pray that Toots Dunham can last out this campaign to see her hard work and sacrifice in the effort it took to raise her extraordinary Grandson bear fruit for the Nation. She deserves it.

Vern Sheldon, Portage IN (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:53 AM)

I thought he already threw her under the bus in Philadelphia?

Move on, York, PA (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 7:59 AM)

Nobama

Move on, York, PA (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:01 AM)

How sad that none of his most formative important people can share this moment with Sen. Obama. His mother died before he became Senator, his grandfather has also died. His Grandma is all he has left from his childhood, and she has been ill enough to not be able to travel all through the campaign.

I just pray that he has a good visit with her and that she is able to live long enough to see her grandson win the Presidency, or even til January when he becomes President.

The sense of loss is palpable, and my heart goes out to Obama, Ms. Dunham, and their family.

Kathie, MN (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:02 AM)

If it was my grandmother who was that ill, I would take my wife and children to console her. Who knows if they would ever see each other again? I hope Obama just isnt trying to get the sympathy vote? Does he really need it?

Vic, Chico, CA (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:07 AM)

Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr Obama and family.

Obama/Biden 08

cindy, Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:07 AM)

Mr. Obama we wish your grandmother great recovery in the days to come.

Linda (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:14 AM)

May God give Senator Obama and his family comfort and strength during this trying moment. May He bless his Grandmother with long and enduring health so she can see him become our Leader. While Obama is away, I will again, donate another $25.00 toward his becoming our next President of the United States of America. I challenge all of his supporters to do the same as well as foot work to encourage voter turnout. Thanks. Tina in Tempe.

Faustina Espinoza (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:17 AM)

Lets pray she has recovered and gets to see her lifes work complete.

J. Ramos, Vandergrift, Pa (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:19 AM)

Should anyone critize this decision, I would deem them cold hearted. Barack's decision to be with his beloved grandmother who raised him and is the only member of his family remaining who raised him, is so very touching. I will pray that she does not turn for the worst. That she will survive long enough to see he grandson elected by the people to become the president of the United States of America.

I was raised by my grandmother and I can tell you to not be with her during this time must be so very hard, but it is a chance he must take. While the campaign is important, is grandmother probably only has a few days left on this earth and that is what Robert Gibbs did not openly say why Barack made the decision to go and be with her. This is deep and abiding love people. Say what you must about the man as a politician but his is his grandmother who he loves very much. We must give him time to be with her. The campaign will still be there when he returns. I understand the pain he must be experiencing - the pull of staying and campaigning or be at his grandmother's bedside.

The choice is not really one, surly a couple of days will not bring the campaign to a hault.

My prayers are with Barack and his entire family during these very difficult days. A grandmother's love is very precious.

Audrey (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:19 AM)

the right and proper thing to do. this is the mark of man who cares more for life than he does for politics.

rb pgh, pa (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:22 AM)

We're praying for the Obama's today and everyday!

Don't worry about McCain and his lies. They can't take what they can't get!

Besides... We've got your back Obama/Biden!

Myrock, Snellville, GA (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:25 AM)

God bless Senator Obama at this time and may he have a fond farewell to his grandmother.

Richard, Delmar, NY (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:26 AM)

It is well regarded for me that he will put his family before politics. It just makes my vote for him all the more stronger. This IS a valid reason to step off the campaign trail; not for politics. Maybe Palin could learn a lesson or two from this. She might get inspired to spend time with her baby Trig.

Give Me A Break, Acworth, GA (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:27 AM)

Senator BO we wish God's speed to your grandmother and her health. Safe travels and our prayers are with you and your family in this time of need. A McCain/Palin supporter for 08.

Al H., Kalamazoo, MI (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:28 AM)

My prayers are with you Senator Obama. Hang in there. Sending many hugz to you and your family.

Smiles.

Shelly (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:30 AM)

My thoughts and prayers go out to Obama and his family.

Regardless of the outcome on 11/4, if (God forbid) this is the end, I pray that his grandmother can see the next 14 days through and know the outcome

Joe - STL (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:30 AM)

Just send a message of condelence to the senator, udging all Democratic voters to take heart and pursue the early voting as it the best solution to the situation right now. Thank and God bless America

James Omata, Mombasa, Kiembeni (Sent Tuesday, October 21, 2008 8:35 AM)

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