Mink camp U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink is "holding her own" while in the hospital and there is optimism about the outlook for her health, her spokeswoman said.
optimistic on
recovery
Still in intensive care, she is
described as in stable conditionBy Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com"Her name is and will be on the ballot for the primary (election) and for the general and we just need to be patient, wait for her to recover and get back to work," Joan Manke said yesterday.
Mink, however, remains in serious condition in Straub Hospital's intensive care unit being treated for pneumonia that was brought on by the chickenpox.
"I guess the word to use along with that is stable," she said. "Basically, holding her own, holding steady."
Mink, 74, has been hospitalized since Aug. 30.
Mink's opponent in Saturday's Democratic Primary is Steve Tataii while Republicans state Rep. Bob McDermott and James Donovan battle for the GOP nomination.
The state attorney general's office says that Mink's illness will not prevent her from being on the primary election ballot and, if she wins the primary, her name will continue to be on the general election ballot unless she withdraws.
Manke said that comments made earlier this week by U.S Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who countered speculation that she is too ill to serve, shows that he is also hopeful about her recovery.
"I know that Neil has been in touch with the family and he's a real optimist like we all are. But I can say she still needs to overcome the pneumonia," she said.
Manke said that work at Mink's congressional office continues as does the work on her campaign.
"We have a lot of sign-waving events and there are signs being put up in her district. We have a lot of volunteers getting out her brochures and phone banking," Manke said. "Everything as we have planned is moving forward."
