There have long been some serious concerns about just how big a factor age can be in a presidential campaign, with both physical and mental health possibly declining as our politicians move further down their own personal timelines.
Last time around, in what feels like the ancient history of 2016, Hillary Clinton bore the brunt of these worries. Her near-constant coughing fits and her fainting episode during a 9/11 memorial trip perhaps sealed the deal when it came to voters who had even the smallest inklings of doubt over her fitness for office.
For 78 year old Bernie Sanders, those fears arose just days ago after it was revealed that the Vermont Senator was hospitalized in order to have a series of stents placed within his arteries.
Now, as the longtime politician is being released from medical care, his campaign is now relaying the scary truth of the matter: Bernie Sanders suffered a heart attack.
Sen. Bernie Sanders was discharged from a Las Vegas hospital Friday after suffering a heart attack earlier in the week, his campaign said.
Asked how he was feeling as he left the Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center, Sanders told NBC News “great. I feel great.”
In a video posted Friday on Twitter, he echoed that sentiment: “I’m feeling so much better.”
Sanders’ enthusiasm to return to campaigning stood in stark contrast to what his doctors’ have been saying.
In a statement, Sanders said, “After two and a half days in the hospital, I feel great, and after taking a short time off, I look forward to getting back to work.”
Ehtisham Mahmud, chief of cardiology at the UC San Diego School of Medicine, said Sanders’ three-day hospitalization indicates he “probably had a small heart attack.”
If elected President, Sanders would be the oldest person ever to being their first term in the Oval Office.
