By Ken Bredemeier
Hillary Clinton’s doctor says the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate is “recovering well” from pneumonia and remains “fit to serve as president of the United States.”
In a letter released Wednesday by the Clinton campaign, the candidate’s doctor, Lisa Bardack, said the Democratic contender underwent a chest scan that revealed she had “mild, non-contagious bacterial pneumonia.” Bardack added, “[Clinton] is recovering well with antibiotics and rest.”
Clinton plans to resume campaigning Thursday. Her illness became public after she left a 9/11 memorial service in New York City and was seen on video staggering while getting into a van.
The episode added fuel to questions about Clinton’s health and provided a fresh line of attack for her Republican rival, Donald Trump, who has frequently questioned whether Clinton has the stamina to serve as commander in chief.
Bardack’s letter said Clinton’s illness stemmed from a bout of seasonal allergies that developed into an upper respiratory tract infection.
Meanwhile, Trump said he was just like many other Americans — he wants to lose weight.
He told Dr. Mehmet Oz at the taping Wednesday of the physician’s popular television show that he would like to lose 7 to 9 kilograms (15 to 20 pounds). Trump, who is tall at 1.9 meters (6 feet 3 inches), said he weighs 107 kilograms (236 pounds), which is overweight by U.S. health care standards.
The program was not for broadcast until Thursday, but people who attended the taping confirmed details for journalists. They said Trump handed Oz a one-page summary of the physical exam he had last week. His campaign said more information about his health would be made public Thursday. It is known that he takes statin drugs to treat high cholesterol.
The New York Times quoted one person at the taping who said Oz put Trump’s weight at 121 kilograms (267 pounds) and declared the Republican candidate “slightly overweight.”
If Trump, 70, wins the November 8 election, he would be the oldest person to be elected U.S. president. Clinton, who will turn 69 on October 26, would be the second oldest if she won and became the country’s first female president.
The oldest president to take office was Ronald Reagan, who was nearly 70 when he was sworn in.
