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Opinion: Robert Novak undergoing treatment for a brain tumor

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Robert Novak, the journalist who has made a fair amount of news himself this month, is suffering from a brain tumor, he revealed today.

‘On Sunday, July 27, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor,’ he said in a statement. ‘I have been admitted to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, where doctors will soon begin appropriate treatment.

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‘I will be suspending my journalistic work for an indefinite but, God willing, not too lengthy period.’

The news was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, which syndicates Novak’s column. Initially begun as a joint effort with the late Rowland Evans that began 45 years ago, the column is the longest-running such commentary in America.

Novak, 77, is especially well-sourced within Republican circles. Earlier this month, he floated in a blog posting the prospect that John McCain would unveil his vice presidential choice while presidential rival Barack Obama was traveling abroad last week -- only to say later that he probably had been led down a primrose path by the McCain campaign.

Last Wednesday, he hit a pedestrian while driving his car in downtown Washington and, apparently unaware of the accident, kept going. He was stopped by onlookers and cited by police; the victim, an elderly homeless man, suffered minor injuries.

The brain tumor diagnosis occurred after Novak became ill while spending the weekend on Cape Cod, Mass; coincidentally, Sen. Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a brain tumor this spring after he suffered a seizure at his family’s Hyannis Port compound on the peninsula.

In a column published today, Novak reflects on the failure of Obama to breakthrough the 50% mark in various national polls through today, despite the many generic factors favoring the Democratic Party in this campaign season.

Novak concluded that McCain, despite ‘running a flawed campaign in a big Democratic year’ still could win the presidency ‘unless Obama closes the deal.’

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The Swamp blog also has a post on Novak, as does our Countdown to Crawford blog.

-- Don Frederick

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