Fumo's heart still in run for re-election
Political allies of state Sen. Vincent Fumo say that the veteran Philadelphia powerbroker appears to be recovering quickly from a weekend heart attack and shows no signs of giving up his bid for re-election.
Political allies of state Sen. Vincent Fumo say that the veteran Philadelphia powerbroker appears to be recovering quickly from a weekend heart attack and shows no signs of giving up his bid for re-election.
The 64-year-old lawmaker had a metal stent inserted into his right coronary artery Sunday night to maintain blood flow after an emergency angioplasty at Hahnemann University Hospital.
Fumo was listed in critical condition yesterday in the hospital's cardiac-care unit. But he took a series of telephone calls in the morning, and by mid-afternoon he was disconnected from heart monitors, ate a chicken salad sandwich and was allowed to get out of bed for the first time.
"I was very, very happy with the progress that he made," said Rosanne Pauciello, a longtime aide and South Philadelphia ward leader who visited Fumo both Sunday night and yesterday afternoon.
"He said he felt fine," Pauciello said. "As soon as they put that stent in . . . he felt like a new person."
"They want to do more checking, and they'll probably keep him in there a couple of days," she continued. "Mostly they told him, pretend he got hit by a truck. The most important thing is for him to rest, sleep as much as possible, lay low and not be under stress."
Visitors and callers said they avoided any discussion of politics, steering clear of any issues that might raise Fumo's blood pressure.
"It was just, 'How you doing? How you feeling?' Not a long conversation," said City Councilman Jim Kenney, who spoke to Fumo on the phone. "He was fine. He sounded very strong, very normal, not groggy."
Fumo's press secretary, Gary Tuma, said: "I spoke to him briefly this morning. It was more of a conversation about how he was doing. He was alert but not in shape to get into substantive conversations about anything."
Seeking to extend his 30-year run in the state Senate, Fumo faces three opponents in the Democratic primary election on April 22. He had back surgery two weeks ago, and in September, he is scheduled for trial on corruption charges in federal court.
But Tuma and Fumo's media adviser, Ken Snyder, said that they've heard nothing to suggest that Fumo is reconsidering his campaign for another four-year term.
"Obviously he will curtail his public appearances in the short-term," Tuma said. "But I haven't gotten any indications that he's changed his mind about running."
"He had a heart attack, that obviously is significant," said Snyder. "He's gotta take care of himself. But we're still running his ads, and we put in a new buy for next week. I've got no reason to believe anything's changed. I believe he can win."
Fumo's three primary-election opponents offered him wishes for a speedy recovery.
Electricians union leader John Dougherty postponed his official campaign launch from today until Thursday, "out of respect to the senator's critical health condition."
Attorney Larry Farnese issued a statement describing Fumo as "tough and resilient," likely to "be back in fighting shape sooner than later."
Anti-casino activist Anne Dicker said she sent flowers, "something that looks like daffodils. . . . I hope he gets well. There's not much more to say than that." *
