BOSTON — Barack Obama has agreed to deliver the commencement address at Wesleyan University in place of Sen. Edward Kennedy, who pulled out Thursday, two days after finding out he had brain cancer.
Kennedy, 76, had planned to address the graduates — including stepdaughter Caroline Raclin — Sunday in Middletown, Conn. The commencement exercises coincide with 25-year reunion festivities for his son Edward Jr., who graduated from the school in 1983.
The Massachusetts Democrat suffered a seizure Saturday. A malignant brain tumor was diagnosed Tuesday.
Kennedy has endorsed Obama and has campaigned for him in his race against Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“Considering what he’s done for me and for our country, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him,” Obama said in a statement. “So I’m looking forward to standing in his place on Sunday, even though I know I won’t be able to fill his shoes.”
