WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (CNN) – Senator Barack Obama will leave the campaign trail Thursday afternoon and travel to Hawaii to visit his grandmother, who is seriously ill.
Robert Gibbs, a senior advisor to Obama, told reporters on the flight from Orlando that 85 year-old Madelyn Dunham’s health “has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious.” Gibbs would not elaborate on the severity of Dunham’s condition, but said the fact that Obama was traveling to see her “underscores the seriousness of the situation.”
Dunham was released from the hospital late last week.
Obama had been scheduled to appear in Wisconsin and Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday. Those events have been canceled. Instead, Obama will do a morning event in Indianapolis, Indiana and then head to Hawaii. He will return to the trail on Saturday with a campaign event in a western state.
His campaign will continue to function normally and in no way is being suspended.
Obama often speaks on the stump about his grandmother, what an integral figure she was in his youth and how she struggled against the glass ceiling in her career. He and his family traveled to Hawaii in August to visit Dunham.
In his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, Obama said of his grandmother: “She’s the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me. And although she can no longer travel, I know that she’s watching tonight, and that tonight is her night as well.”
From CNN Politics
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My thoughts are with you Senator. I really hope your grandmother gets to see you win this election and gets to see you raise your right hand and taking the oath this coming January.
all my prayer are with you and your family
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family... May God bless you all
I pray for you senator and your grandmother. May the almightly give her the strength to see her grandson sworn in as the president of this great nation
We all pray for her safety
The nation prays for your grandmother Mr. Obama.
may god keep his loving arms around you and your family during this time .i pray that you remain safe,my prayers are with you and your grandmother,i know every american in some way another is going thru or have ben thru times like you are having right now with a love one,remember god is with you at all times
Senator Obama, we understand your pain. May God bless your family
Seantor Obama, this will be time spent that money can't buy and you will treasure for the rest of your life. My prayers are with you and your Grandmother.
Senator Obama, we pray for you everyday, and now "Toot" is in our prays too.
Get some rest and stay with God.
A grandson's gotta do what a grandson's gotta do......
Get well soon, Mrs Dunham.
It's times like these that I love America more. These comments exemplifies America at her best. I add my prayers as well, and trust that Obamas grandmother hold on at least until Nov. 4th.
My prayers are with you and your family
this is a stunt. looking for the sympathy vote.
Praying for your grandma and may God Protect you and your entire family Senator
Our hopes and prayers are with you and your Grandmother Barack.
Some of ur comments almost left me teary.
Jerry, San Francisco: "Your grandmother will always be within you, and through you, with us. She has reached our hearts, minds, and souls. We are with you."
Yes, we are.
Ellie and Ira: "...We believe in you and you make us believe in ourselves. We love you."
Yes, we do.
B, you made your grandma proud.
Senator Obama,
I wish your grandmother, you and your family strength to get through this difficult peroid. May God Bless you and keep you.
Obama I hope you can get a sense of the kindness and strength of your support .. We love you and your beautiful family and pray that God continues to protect you and your family from harm's way... I pray that your Grandmother gets to see you become OUR next president. You have an army of angels from heaven on your side....Our support for you is unwavering be with your family during this difficult time MAY GOD BLESS YOU ...
WE GOT YOUR BACK – Obama 08,12
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your grandmother, and your family. You are a precious family who have blessed our lives, and we love you.
Our prayers are with you.
God bless you and your family Senator. It is only through those that brought us to adulthood that we have strength. Her life is a testament to yours.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time and like most of the people out there following this election, we pray that your grandmother will be with you when you become the next President of the United States of America.
God Bless
You and your family are in our prayers ....
Family First. We'll hold the fort.
Obama/Biden '08